tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43904854717789590882015-08-01T11:45:03.047-05:00The Devoted ClassicistThe Devoted Classicist . . . . . . . . . . . John J Tackett . . . . . . . . . . Classic Residential DesignJohn J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.comBlogger260125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-24209363542219905622015-07-17T12:34:00.000-05:002015-07-17T14:08:37.277-05:00Marie-Antoinette: Chic Chaises<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_M8l7gNGNY/Vagmw4xkA4I/AAAAAAAAK8s/boRU91n-TTs/s1600/Bel_fauteuil_en_bergere_by_francois_foliot_1780_Christies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_M8l7gNGNY/Vagmw4xkA4I/AAAAAAAAK8s/boRU91n-TTs/s400/Bel_fauteuil_en_bergere_by_francois_foliot_1780_Christies.jpg" width="353" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A </em>fauteuil en bergere <em>made for</em><br /><em>Marie-Antoinette's </em>Salon du Rocher<br /><em>in the garden of the Petit Trianon, Versailles.</em><br /><em>Image: Christie's.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>A single armchair sold last week for $2,714,250.&nbsp; Yes, it was a very special chair, made especially for Marie-Antoinette as part of a suite to furnish the Belvedere Pavilion, her <em>Salon du Rocher</em> or teahouse, in the garden of the Petit Trianon.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-003vc4uWAOk/VakkT0N5G0I/AAAAAAAAK-U/HN2pBPS5E4E/s1600/bel_ExteiorLakeGrotto_WMF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-003vc4uWAOk/VakkT0N5G0I/AAAAAAAAK-U/HN2pBPS5E4E/s400/bel_ExteiorLakeGrotto_WMF.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Belvedere Pavilion (and Grotto)</em><br /><em>in the garden of the Petit Trianon.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp; World Monuments Fund.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3MGoKcNCP5M/Vak3Bz8lQ_I/AAAAAAAAK_E/tvkCtpBpnE8/s1600/Bel_Interior_WMF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3MGoKcNCP5M/Vak3Bz8lQ_I/AAAAAAAAK_E/tvkCtpBpnE8/s400/Bel_Interior_WMF.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The interior of the Belvedere Pavilion.</em><br /><em>Image: World Monuments Fund.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>The Belvedere Pavilion was built between 1778 and 1781 under the supervision of the queen's architect Richard Mique with interior decoration by Le Riche.&nbsp; (A conservation effort was completed in 2012 supported by the <a href="http://www.wmf.org/project/belvedere-pavilion-versailles">World Monuments Fund).</a>﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_A8Dne43lbE/VakxiEqOurI/AAAAAAAAK-w/E80dgzl10Jg/s1600/Bel_extElev_ArchitecturalWatercolors.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_A8Dne43lbE/VakxiEqOurI/AAAAAAAAK-w/E80dgzl10Jg/s400/Bel_extElev_ArchitecturalWatercolors.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Belvedere Pavilion</em><br /><em>in a modern watercolor by Andrew Zega&nbsp;from</em><br /><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/2080135619">PLEASURE PAVILIONS AND FOLLIES</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkl7bkEHlNE/Vak2ErNaiWI/AAAAAAAAK-8/cMv-Kx7jJRw/s1600/Bel_Plan_1786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkl7bkEHlNE/Vak2ErNaiWI/AAAAAAAAK-8/cMv-Kx7jJRw/s400/Bel_Plan_1786.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The floor plan of the Belvedere Pavilion</em><br /><em>showing the design of the marble floor </em><br /><em>and the surrounding terrace as drawn by</em><br /><em>Claude-Louis Châtelet in 1786.</em><br /><em>Image: Bibliothèque de Modène.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The July 9, 2015 auction at Christie's, London, Sale 10670, was titled "Taste of the Royal Court: Important French Furniture and Works of Art from a Private Collection."&nbsp; Far exceeding the estimate of $463,200 to $772,000, Lot 18 was described as a royal Louis XVI giltwood <em>fauteuil en bergere</em>.&nbsp; <br />﻿﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIIojTHf_FA/Vag0IKGAz0I/AAAAAAAAK9o/g5ZrjWTQkvo/s1600/Bel_bergere_Side_Christies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIIojTHf_FA/Vag0IKGAz0I/AAAAAAAAK9o/g5ZrjWTQkvo/s400/Bel_bergere_Side_Christies.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Side view of the </em>fauteuil en bergere<br /><em>from the suite made for the Belvedere Pavilion.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp;Christie's.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRkD8pFqKmI/Vag02JMlU4I/AAAAAAAAK9w/kVlqPa9vDaw/s1600/Bel_bergere_FrontRailLeg_Christies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRkD8pFqKmI/Vag02JMlU4I/AAAAAAAAK9w/kVlqPa9vDaw/s400/Bel_bergere_FrontRailLeg_Christies.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A detail of the chair sold at auction last week</em><br /><em>that had been made for Marie-Antioinette's</em><br /><em>Belvedere Pavilion, Versailles.</em><br /><em>Image: Christie's.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj8fp8ZIOD0/Vag1e3Hyr1I/AAAAAAAAK98/Er4nch_16ZA/s1600/Bel_bergere_ArmMeetsBack_Christies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj8fp8ZIOD0/Vag1e3Hyr1I/AAAAAAAAK98/Er4nch_16ZA/s400/Bel_bergere_ArmMeetsBack_Christies.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Another detail of the chair made for</em><br /><em>Marie-Antoinette's Belvedere Pavilion.</em><br /><em>Image: Christie's.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The auction notes listed Francois (II) Foliot as the maker, 1780-81, and attributed the design to Jacques Gondoin with the carving by either Mme. Pierre-Edme Babel or Toussaint Foliot.&nbsp; A wax model by Gondoin showed an additional two legs at the front rail, suggesting that the existing rail might be a replacement from the end of the 18th or early 19th century.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cwMkT-Bu0EI/VagoA7IgSVI/AAAAAAAAK80/LuTL6B4d2L4/s1600/bel_bergere_WaxModel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cwMkT-Bu0EI/VagoA7IgSVI/AAAAAAAAK80/LuTL6B4d2L4/s400/bel_bergere_WaxModel.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The wax study model of the chair</em><br /><em>attributed to Gille-François Martin, to the design</em><br /><em>of Jacques Gondoin.&nbsp; Paris, 1780. 1:7 scale.</em><br /><em>Image: Musèe National des Châteaux des Versailles et de Trianon.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Originally, the suite was comprised of eight <em>fauteuils en bergere </em>(closed-arm chairs) and eight <em>chaises </em>(side chairs).&nbsp; The carved beech was painted white, originally, with parcel-gilt detailing.&nbsp; The major expense of the original suite, however, was the fabric, threads of gold and silver embroidered on silk.&nbsp; Bills for payment for the chairs costing 20,000 <em>livres</em>, now in the Archives Nationale, were presented during the Revolution trial as evidence of Marie-Antoinette's lavish spending. (A gallon of wine at the time cost about one livre, a cow, 100 livres, and a horse, 250 livres).<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8B1F78Qn7tM/Vagr-n5za8I/AAAAAAAAK9A/VVmwGB2DYrA/s1600/Bel_Chaise_Sidechair_Rear_SNA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8B1F78Qn7tM/Vagr-n5za8I/AAAAAAAAK9A/VVmwGB2DYrA/s400/Bel_Chaise_Sidechair_Rear_SNA.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A </em>chaise<em> from the suite, in the collection at Versailles.</em><br /><em>The modern fabric is interpreted to be in keeping</em><br /><em>with the original design concept.</em><br /><em>Image: Syndicat National des Antiquaires.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Getty Museum has four side chairs from this suite&nbsp;in their collection.&nbsp; They were bought from the estate of Anna Thomson Dodge from Christie's in 1971.&nbsp; The four chairs were one of the highlights of her impressive collection that furnished her Trumbauer-designed mansion, "Rose Terrace," in Grosse Point Farms, Michigan.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Au_CBeKWII/VagtlowHkQI/AAAAAAAAK9M/Xcw6_M-9ndw/s1600/Bel_Chaise_Oblique_GettyCollection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Au_CBeKWII/VagtlowHkQI/AAAAAAAAK9M/Xcw6_M-9ndw/s400/Bel_Chaise_Oblique_GettyCollection.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>One of the four </em>chaises<em> in the Getty collection</em><br /><em>now covered in modern fabric.</em><br /><em>Image: getty.edu</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Who was the buyer?&nbsp; That has not been revealed, but the price would indicate that there were at least two very interested parties.&nbsp; There was a special European Union document that allowed its shipment to the auction in London; apparently it was not from a private collection in France or there would have been issues on exporting such a historically important antique.&nbsp; My guess is that&nbsp;the Getty Museum was the high bidder, but hopefully we shall see this chic chaise on public exhibition in the future.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wklBt4pKxBY/Vagyyp7xViI/AAAAAAAAK9c/izE8WL4DUMM/s1600/Bel_Illumination_1781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wklBt4pKxBY/Vagyyp7xViI/AAAAAAAAK9c/izE8WL4DUMM/s400/Bel_Illumination_1781.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Claude-Louis Châtelet's 1781 painting</em><br /><em>"</em>Illumination du Pavillon du Belvédère, Petit Trianon."<br /><em>Image: Collection of the Palace of Versailles.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Read more in this series "Chic Chaises" <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2014/11/bunny-mellon-chic-chaises.html?m=1">here,</a> <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2014/11/frances-elkins-chic-chaises.html?m=1">here,</a> and <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2015//02/valerian-rybar-chic-chaises.html?m=1">here</a>.&nbsp; Visit the regular on-line version of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/">The Devoted Classicist</a> to leave a comment or search the archives of past posts.John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-3118069824815972552015-06-11T20:12:00.001-05:002015-06-12T10:31:59.388-05:00Parish-Hadley Tree of Life<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkzz7z-r22M/VXnLha3CauI/AAAAAAAAK4I/hyQ8pJlkIzs/s1600/ParishHadley_BookCover_TheDevotedClassicist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkzz7z-r22M/VXnLha3CauI/AAAAAAAAK4I/hyQ8pJlkIzs/s640/ParishHadley_BookCover_TheDevotedClassicist.jpg" width="521" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/1617691704">PARISH-HADLEY TREE OF LIFE</a><br /><em>is a new book to be published October, 2015.</em><br />&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>There is a new book in the works, <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/1617691704">PARISH-HADLEY TREE OF LIFE: AN INTIMATE HISTORY OF THE LEGENDARY DESIGN FIRM,</a> being developed by <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2013/12/brian-j-mccarthys-luminous-interiors.html?">Brian J. McCarthy</a> and <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2013/05/480-park-avenue-before-and-after.html?">Bunny Williams</a> that will focus not only on the firm, but will also feature thirty-one of the former employees who have gone on to successful careers on their own.&nbsp; Because of the unique learning environment created by <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2012/02/sister-parish-at-960-fifth-avenue.html?">Sister Parish</a> and <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2012/04/albert-hadley-remembered.html?">Albert Hadley,</a> the "graduates" of Parish-Hadley are known in the design&nbsp;profession&nbsp;as "alumnae" with their experience compared to an advance degree in design.&nbsp; Each of the 31 alumni interviewed have a chapter in the book giving a personal reflection of the firm with illustrations of their work past and present.<br /><br />The Parish-Hadley story is an very unique one; no other interior design firm - ever- has produced so many designers who left to&nbsp;establish their own studio.&nbsp; Brian had the idea for the book about eight years ago.&nbsp; He developed an outline and discussed it with Mr. Hadley (who passed in 2012 following Mrs. Parish's death in 1994) who was very excited about the project.&nbsp; But Brian's own book, <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/1617690430">LUMINOUS INTERIORS: THE HOUSES OF BRIAN McCARTHY,</a> came first.&nbsp; When Brian told Bunny about his idea when they were both at the Nashville Garden &amp; Antiques Show, she was very enthusiastic and promised her full support.&nbsp; The next week, Bunny was in a meeting at Abrams and happened to mention the idea; the publishers jumped on it, giving the book an immediate green light for <strong>Stewart, Tabori and Chang</strong>, using the same&nbsp;book agent&nbsp;<strong>Jill Cohen, </strong>art director <strong>Doug Turshen</strong>&nbsp;and creative team that both Bunny and Brian had used before on their own books.&nbsp;In addition to the&nbsp;very readable&nbsp;text, the book also promises to be visually interesting. &nbsp;Advances in digital imagery will avoid the muddy results of historic black &amp; white photos that have plagued design books in the past.&nbsp; Plus there are many new color never-before-published images.<br /><br />The image used for the book jacket (and that may change) is one of my favorites&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Parish-Hadley projects, the <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2011/07/travellers-albert-hadley-and-sunburst.html?">Living Room of Nancy Pyne</a> in Peapack, New Jersey.&nbsp; Both partners had a hand in the design and the result is quintessential Parish-Hadley -- comfortable yet refined and with an architectural sensibility in the furnishings without being too rigid.<br /><br />The title of the book expresses Albert Hadley's appreciation of the traditional motif, the Tree of Life.&nbsp; The mythology of the sacred tree dates back to a number of ancient civilizations including the cultures of pre-Islamic Persia and ancient Egypt as well as other Asian, European, and Native American beliefs.&nbsp; The motif gained wide-spread exposure as a popular design on 17th century printed cotton bedcoverings from India, the <em>palampores</em> which often featured a Tree of Life as a central figure.&nbsp; The Tree of Life motif was also developed in Persia and China in the 18th century with adaptations for the European market where various goods were marketed.&nbsp; Crewel embroidery was also used to represent the motif in England, often a natural color wool yarn on a colored background;&nbsp; a wallpaper representation of this was an Albert Hadley favorite.<br /><br />And not insignificantly, there will be a short chapter on <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2010/12/bit-more-about-me.html?">John J. Tackett</a> that Devoted Readers will not want to miss.&nbsp; Plans are for an October 13, 2015,&nbsp;release with Hearst Publications -- <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/B0039L2QLS">Elle Décor,</a> <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/B001THPA44">Veranda</a>, and <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/B001THPA1W">House Beautiful</a> -- hosting a gala launch on that date.&nbsp; So there will be plenty more about the book in the magazines in the coming months.&nbsp; But for those who cannot wait to see the book on store shelves, pre-ordering at a discount price is available <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/1617691704">here.</a>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-74623713194945766702015-06-10T13:52:00.001-05:002015-06-11T10:41:21.504-05:00Another Storey<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AR0jK08YZTo/VXh-ctqJ6cI/AAAAAAAAK3g/-D00GEQUzIA/s1600/AnotherStorey_TDC_JohnTackettDesign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AR0jK08YZTo/VXh-ctqJ6cI/AAAAAAAAK3g/-D00GEQUzIA/s400/AnotherStorey_TDC_JohnTackettDesign.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>John Tackett Design.</em><br /><em>A Proposed Addition and Improvements</em><br /><em>to a New House Under Construction.</em><br /><em>Image: The Devoted Classicist blog</em></td></tr></tbody></table>A colleague has interior design clients building a very large house custom designed by a local architect.&nbsp; In addition to a substantial main block, there are extensions in both directions with almost endless passages to room after room on the Ground Floor.&nbsp; So it was a surprise to be contacted about a possible expansion while the house was just starting construction.<br /><br />There was interest in having parents occupy the planned Master Suite on the Ground Floor, requiring the homeowners to relocate to the Second Floor and push the guest rooms to a new Third Floor.&nbsp; The interior designer wisely advised against expansion of the Ground Floor, already a maze many time larger than the main block.&nbsp; The program for <strong>John Tackett Design</strong> was to suggest an upward expansion of the main block without increasing the overall roof height, and propose some detailing to give more architectural interest.&nbsp; The foundation was complete and framing underway but the structural engineer gave approval for the proposed added storey.&nbsp; My quick sketch over a reduced-size&nbsp;print of the original construction drawing is shown.<br /><br />A very deep porch is replaced with an entrance terrace (already in place) with a rusticated limestone first floor giving a visual base for applied limestone pilasters and a limestone pediment.&nbsp; Instead of the over-sized brown brick with white mortar originally planned, I suggested a traditional-sized brick in a buff ochre color with matching mortar to compliment the proposed buff Minnesota&nbsp;limestone.&nbsp; The windows were already on order, but I did suggest changing the Upstairs Center Hall window over the front door, and the window of the two-story Secondary Stair Hall seen on the front of the house.&nbsp; Also, my design changes the front door to a narrow pair and alters the sidelights, transom and limestone surround.<br /><br />The interior designer who had apparently&nbsp;expressed concerns throughout the original design process was thrilled with my proposal.&nbsp; And the homeowners were ecstatic.&nbsp; But the parents, who were not part of the discussion, balked at the thought of moving in with their adult offspring.&nbsp; "Never!" was their reported comment.&nbsp; So this has been one last view before going into the Unbuilt category in the files.John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-31370400595286550522015-05-09T13:11:00.001-05:002015-05-09T13:11:26.196-05:00More Valerian Rybar for Claudette and Murray Candib<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajG_kOyfd7I/VU47jbsva-I/AAAAAAAAKx0/gu1W5680pOE/s1600/rybar_candib_LivRm_AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ajG_kOyfd7I/VU47jbsva-I/AAAAAAAAKx0/gu1W5680pOE/s400/rybar_candib_LivRm_AD.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Candib's Living Room in Miami Beach</em><br /><em>decorated by Valerian Rybar.</em><br /><em>Image: Architectural Digest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Another office neighbor's purging of reference files has yielded more images of the Miami Beach house that Valerian Rybar decorated for Claudette and Murray Candib.&nbsp; Looking like a neo-classical villa on the Riviera, the project with partner Jean-Francois Daigre was featured in the April 1987 issue of Architectural Digest.&nbsp; The stylish chairs in the handsome lattice-paneled Dining Room were featured on a previous post of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2015/02/valerian-rybar-chic-chaises.html?m=1">The Devoted Classicist.</a><br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqUuSs-JD2A/VU4_thjx5lI/AAAAAAAAKyA/oFPn7sFQKls/s1600/Rybar_Candib_DiningRm_1987_AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqUuSs-JD2A/VU4_thjx5lI/AAAAAAAAKyA/oFPn7sFQKls/s400/Rybar_Candib_DiningRm_1987_AD.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Candib Dining Room.</em><br /><em>Image: Architectural Digest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Clearly, Rybar was not big on choosing furnishings from a catalog;&nbsp; he mixed carefully selected antiques with his own custom-designed cabinetry and upholstery.&nbsp; In the Living Room, a central <em>bourne</em> was fabricated with a scagliola top that accommodated table lamps to supplement the light from a pair of crystal and bronze doré&nbsp;chandeliers.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1atinXkQndA/VU5CALWYF9I/AAAAAAAAKyM/eM_2mUTUETw/s1600/rybar_candib_loggia_AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1atinXkQndA/VU5CALWYF9I/AAAAAAAAKyM/eM_2mUTUETw/s400/rybar_candib_loggia_AD.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Loggia in the Candib home.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp; Architectural Digest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Loggia benefits from classic Florida architecture, walls in blocks of coquina stone and a paneled, white-washed wood ceiling (which appears to be cedar or cypress).&nbsp; The modular seating in Ottoman form has stylized paisley upholstery fabric in gray and burgundy, an effect later to be diluted with less-expensive versions but this was not as familiar at the time.&nbsp; The same goes for the pleated shades.&nbsp; And it was not long before knock-off Coromandel screens diminished the value of the antique lacquer panels.&nbsp; But at the time, this room with pots of huge orchids was chic.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--522EZfd2nE/VU5FkyOSpeI/AAAAAAAAKyk/fJqC8_f2hy8/s1600/rybar_candib_PowderRm_AD_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--522EZfd2nE/VU5FkyOSpeI/AAAAAAAAKyk/fJqC8_f2hy8/s400/rybar_candib_PowderRm_AD_edited-1.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br />"I told Valerian I wanted something very different," Claudette Candib was quoted to say about the Powder Room.&nbsp; Although animal prints are commonplace today, wall panels of jaguar velvet framed with ebonized wood certainly had to be unexpected in Florida.&nbsp; An ebony Empire <em>coiffeuse </em>paired with a sculptural chair of the same period with a black horsehair-covered seat added glamor to the space as well.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PZZXARvBPo8/VU5EBddlKZI/AAAAAAAAKyY/UXZ8hBY5ebo/s1600/rybar_candib_Library_AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PZZXARvBPo8/VU5EBddlKZI/AAAAAAAAKyY/UXZ8hBY5ebo/s400/rybar_candib_Library_AD.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Candib's Library designed by Rybar.</em><br /><em>Image: Architectural Digest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>In some terms, the Library was one of the more conventional rooms in the house.&nbsp;Handsomely paneled, an animal-print carpet furthers the black and gold scheme&nbsp;for comfortable upholstered&nbsp;seating, a Louis&nbsp;writing desk, and a lacquered low table probably designed by Rybar.<em>&nbsp;</em><br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rIfHnz2mA6g/VU5HU7QHCSI/AAAAAAAAKyw/cfi9IRchec4/s1600/rybar_candib_BR_Comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rIfHnz2mA6g/VU5HU7QHCSI/AAAAAAAAKyw/cfi9IRchec4/s400/rybar_candib_BR_Comp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Candib Master Bedroom by Valerian Rybar.</em><br /><em>Image: Architectural Digest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>There was no lack of drama for the decoration of the Master Bedroom, however. Rybar designed a canopy in a variation of a <em>lit à la polonaise </em>with supports as stylized palm trunks.&nbsp; An Ottoman style bench at the end of the bed undoubtedly concealed a pop-up television.<br /><br />Self-described as "the world's most expensive decorator,"&nbsp; Rybar's published projects were not universally praised although the firm never suffered from a lack of potential clients with the means to have a gasp-inducing interior.&nbsp; The most interesting lesson today, however, might be the design professional's&nbsp;ability to carry through with a theme and leave no aspect of decoration without consideration.&nbsp; The idea of Total Design for interiors has lost appreciation in these past years, but there seems to be interest growing again, no?<br />John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-66602710492346223072015-04-10T07:58:00.000-05:002015-04-10T07:58:25.808-05:00Mario Buatta, Curtain Master<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JzWIfzQJpZA/VSVFnYwZheI/AAAAAAAAKv0/GLrq4nzyDEs/s1600/Buatta_CurtainA_BlairHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JzWIfzQJpZA/VSVFnYwZheI/AAAAAAAAKv0/GLrq4nzyDEs/s1600/Buatta_CurtainA_BlairHouse.jpg" height="640" width="460" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Curtains in the Dillon Room of Blair House</em><br /><em>decorated by Mario Buatta. 1988.</em><br /><em>Photo from Southern Accents.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Granted, there are many other examples that would better prove Mario Buatta's skill in curtain design, but this one illustrates several valuable lessons.&nbsp; While it is admirable that the form of the curtains acknowledges the form of the window (or doorway), it is not critical that the form be absolutely followed.&nbsp; Windows with a rounded head do not necessarily require rounded head curtains.&nbsp; (As with any rule, there are exceptions and I will contradict myself in a future post, but let's stay with this for the moment).<br />﻿<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S0ComLL3p4g/VSVHRrdHOzI/AAAAAAAAKwA/LZfg9WdwW2o/s1600/Buatta_CurtainB_BlairHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S0ComLL3p4g/VSVHRrdHOzI/AAAAAAAAKwA/LZfg9WdwW2o/s1600/Buatta_CurtainB_BlairHouse.jpg" height="400" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Dillon Room at Blair House</em><br /><em>as decorated by Mario Buatta, 1988.</em><br /><em>Photo from Southern Accents.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Identifying the gilded, pierced element of the valance (or pelmet) as the curtain cornice, note how that feature gives grace to the large opening.&nbsp; The curtain cornice allows the striped silk taffeta fabric of the valance and panels to just simply hang; the volume of the fabric along with lining and interlining as well as the correct dimensions keep the ensemble from looking limp.&nbsp; Although the center of the curtain cornice rises to a height above the cornice (or crown molding) of the room, note that the attachment of this treatment is made to the wall.&nbsp; Curtains should never be attached to the face of the cornice of the room.&nbsp; (And that is one rule for which I can think of no exceptions).<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--IPDykJiS6s/VSVLJup-S6I/AAAAAAAAKwM/KWXaww8tngU/s1600/Buatta_BlairHouse_DillonRoom_MaryENicholsViaAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--IPDykJiS6s/VSVLJup-S6I/AAAAAAAAKwM/KWXaww8tngU/s1600/Buatta_BlairHouse_DillonRoom_MaryENicholsViaAD.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Another view of the Dillon Room, Blair House.</em><br /><em>Photo from Architectural Digest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>While many might know that Blair House is the official guest house of the President for visiting foreign dignitaries and their entourages, some may not realize that it is actually four houses; two face Pennsylvania Avenue and two face Jackson Square adding up to over 100 rooms.&nbsp; The 1984 to 1988 renovation dealt with architects <strong>John Mesick </strong>and <strong>John Waite</strong>&nbsp;restructuring the interconnection of the interior spaces and other functional issues with an $8.6 million grant from Congress.&nbsp; But an additional $5 million was raised by private donations for the décor by the Blair House Restoration Fund headed by <strong>Selwa "Lucky" Roosevelt</strong> (Chief of Protocol from 1982 to 1989 and wife of Theodore Roosevelt's grandson) and <strong>Clement Conger </strong>(who was the force behind the White House decoration of public rooms from Pat Nixon until Nancy Reagan).&nbsp; Half of those funds was used for decoration and half was reserved for an on-going acquisition and maintenance fund.&nbsp; The responsibilities for the interior design were divided between Mario Buatta and <strong>Mark Hampton</strong>, each among the top "name' decorators of the time.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJDBIzJAa7s/VSAov9pSj0I/AAAAAAAAKvk/Di-JaAKiNK0/s1600/Buatta_BlairHouse_QueensBedrm_RedoneBunnyWilliams_WashPost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJDBIzJAa7s/VSAov9pSj0I/AAAAAAAAKvk/Di-JaAKiNK0/s1600/Buatta_BlairHouse_QueensBedrm_RedoneBunnyWilliams_WashPost.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Queen's Bedroom at Blair House</em><br /><em>as decorated by Mario Buatta in 1988.</em><br /><em>Bunny Williams redecorated the room in 2011.</em><br /><em>Photo via The Washington Post.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>In 2011, <strong>Bunny Williams</strong>, one of the&nbsp;top&nbsp;talents today,&nbsp;was brought in to redecorate three bedrooms, two by Mario Buatta and one by Mark Hampton,&nbsp;which had&nbsp;discontinued fabrics that made it not feasible to reproduce the original scheme.&nbsp;The curtains, however, were still in a condition suitable for re-use and sent to be auctioned in September, 2011&nbsp;by&nbsp;the Potomac Company in Alexandria with proceeds to benefit the restoration fund.&nbsp; The&nbsp; headboards and associated hangings along with the curtains, all in a discontinued Lee Jofa chintz, were given a pre-auction estimate of $400 to $800; the results are not known.John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-50413434530464688912015-04-07T11:13:00.001-05:002015-04-07T13:21:39.386-05:00John Saladino, Curtain Master<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TVcZf7w7gRs/VR7c7YjwLqI/AAAAAAAAKvE/2ZHP8zdw2mk/s1600/Saladino_CurtainA_Oct1998_HB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TVcZf7w7gRs/VR7c7YjwLqI/AAAAAAAAKvE/2ZHP8zdw2mk/s1600/Saladino_CurtainA_Oct1998_HB.jpg" height="640" width="505" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>John Saladino's Kips Bay Showhouse room.</em><br /><em>Image from HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, October 1988.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Designer of furnishings and interiors, <strong>John Saladino</strong> is known for his Signature Look that mixes continental antiques with seating, tables and lighting of his own design, usually within a handsome architectural setting.&nbsp; But Saladino is not necessarily known for his curtains.&nbsp; Here is an example, however, where Saladino realized that the room absolutely needed some softness at the tall south and west-facing windows of this room and addressed the issue in a simple, classic way.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MmFa3miIULE/VR7dNhH49ZI/AAAAAAAAKvM/IxAnC8v6h1k/s1600/Saladino_CurtainB_Oct1998_HB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MmFa3miIULE/VR7dNhH49ZI/AAAAAAAAKvM/IxAnC8v6h1k/s1600/Saladino_CurtainB_Oct1998_HB.jpg" height="336" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A corner of Saladino's Kips Bay Showhouse room.</em><br /><em>Image from HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, October 1988.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>This room was in a&nbsp;Park Avenue townhouse that was used as a decorator&nbsp;showhouse&nbsp;several times to benefit the Kips Bay Boys &amp; Girls Club providing after-school and enrichment programs for New York City children; I think this particular event dates from 1988.&nbsp;Patrons at the gala opening are allowed to walk into the rooms, but the typical visitor only sees the room from one angle, at the doorway (unless it is a walk-through room) so the space is often furnished to be seen from just one vantage point.&nbsp; But the room has to work during both day and evening opening hours.&nbsp;The existing paneling in this case could not be altered,&nbsp;making any special construction at the windows impossible.&nbsp;&nbsp;Part of the solution here&nbsp;was a bottom-up linen shade that could be adjusted to diffuse the light as well as the view of traffic just below.&nbsp; This allowed the curtain panels of unlined fabric to be fixed, pulled up to one side in the manner of the classical Mediterranean villas that still&nbsp;inspire Saladino.&nbsp; The panels were silk, if I am remembering correctly, with inverted pleats giving&nbsp;a more tailored look,&nbsp;hanging from&nbsp;braided cords of the same color.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H-QTJnQyd0U/VR7dbrbhj7I/AAAAAAAAKvU/haX6tFJ22OQ/s1600/Saladino_CurtainC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H-QTJnQyd0U/VR7dbrbhj7I/AAAAAAAAKvU/haX6tFJ22OQ/s1600/Saladino_CurtainC.jpg" height="358" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Saladino's Kips Bay Showhouse Room.</em><br /><em>Photo from </em>SHOWCASE OF INTERIOR DESIGN:<br />EASTERN EDITION, <em>1991, via</em><br /><a href="http://theartoftheroom.com/2014/05/enduring-saladino-style-vintage-kips-bay/">The Art of the Room</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Can you imagine the room without the curtains?&nbsp; It would not be nearly as successful without this relatively simple element.&nbsp; Read more about this room in a post of <a href="http://theartoftheroom.com/2014/05/enduring-saladino-style-vintage-kips-bay/">The Art of the Room</a>.&nbsp; This is the third post in the not-necessarily-consecutive series on curtains with the others being able to be seen by clicking on "curtains" under LABELS in the right-hand margin of the regular web version of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2010/12/bit-more-about-me.html?m=1">The Devoted Classicist.</a><br /><br /><br />John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-46356085116693916382015-04-02T13:59:00.001-05:002015-04-02T13:59:45.354-05:00Robert Couturier, Curtain Master<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_0cgqikGKc/VRiXbZeKlmI/AAAAAAAAKuU/OTMKtWuBwYk/s1600/Couturier_CurtainB_sept1990_HG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_0cgqikGKc/VRiXbZeKlmI/AAAAAAAAKuU/OTMKtWuBwYk/s1600/Couturier_CurtainB_sept1990_HG.jpg" height="322" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Designer Robert Couturier's Living Room</em><br /><em>from House &amp; Garden, September 1990.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>In Robert Couturier's Living Room in his own NYC apartment, the curtains play a large part of the success of the room. &nbsp;Filled with a mix of stylish continental antiques from the 18th, 19th, and 20th-centuries, an Aubusson rug grounds the arrangement. &nbsp;Three tiers of white,&nbsp;hinged bi-fold, louvered shutters provide light control and privacy in the bay window that would otherwise dominate the room if the eye had not been stopped by the billowing effect of the curtains.&nbsp;&nbsp;Panels of taffeta hang by tabs of the same fabric from a steel rod accented with brass finials, support posts, and large tie-back rosettes.<br /><br />Imagine the same room without the curtains to realize the importance of that feature.&nbsp; Although it is not the type of room usually seen in magazines today, it still has validity after 25 years.&nbsp; More posts in the Curtain Master series will follow with a series of un-consecutive series of posts by <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/">The Devoted Classicist.</a>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-17305138709279088762015-03-29T19:01:00.001-05:002015-03-29T19:01:38.903-05:00Kevin McNamara, Curtain Master<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuRv1aFQedY/VRiM0aK64GI/AAAAAAAAKt8/mLUpsrOmBmA/s1600/McNamara_CurtainA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuRv1aFQedY/VRiM0aK64GI/AAAAAAAAKt8/mLUpsrOmBmA/s1600/McNamara_CurtainA.jpg" height="640" width="499" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A view of the East Hampton Living Room</em><br /><em>of designer Kevin McNamara.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Devoted Classicist is still hearing far too many people -- including professional interior designers -- say that they do not do curtains. &nbsp;Actually, they say they don't do "drapes" which is like nails on a chalkboard to me, but that is another subject. &nbsp;This is the first of a non-consecutive series of posts to show how curtains can really add to the appeal of a room.<br /><br />Although I have a great appreciation for elaborate curtains -- if the rest of the room is up to it -- I do understand those whose memory is tainted with visions of poorly proportioned, tortured, and sometimes smothering window treatments that are so objectionable that nothing at the windows would be better. &nbsp;But relatively simple curtains, even in formal atmospheres can be a welcome and much needed dressing.<br />﻿﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eul254vL9Rg/VRiNYJ1xzxI/AAAAAAAAKuE/ZB-p3Ophko0/s1600/McNamara_CurtainsB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eul254vL9Rg/VRiNYJ1xzxI/AAAAAAAAKuE/ZB-p3Ophko0/s1600/McNamara_CurtainsB.jpg" height="640" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Another view of the curtains</em><br /><em>in Kevin McNamara's East Hampton</em><br /><em>Living Room.</em><br /><em>Both photos from Architectural Digest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>These photos show the Living Room of the late Kevin McNamara's weekend house in East Hampton. &nbsp;I visited twice, once while it was under construction and another time after it was complete and handsomely furnished when I still worked at Parish-Hadley. &nbsp;So this decor dates back about 30 years. (These two shots come from an article in Architectural Digest, torn out for the Curtain File of a colleague. &nbsp;But I have the entire issue packed away and will show more in a future post).<br /><br />I hope you can imagine how different this room would look without curtains. &nbsp;As I recall, the long walls of the room each had three pairs of tall French doors opening out to a terrace on both the entrance and garden side of the capital 'I' (with serif) shaped house. &nbsp;(I might have preferred shorter doors with a transom to give the desired overall height, but that, too, is a subject for another post). &nbsp;Color/value also plays a role. &nbsp;How different the room would be if the curtains matched the green glazed walls. &nbsp;Here, the French doors remain an important feature of the room, but they are visually softened somewhat by the creamy curtains. &nbsp;The site is wooded and private, so there may have never been a need to draw the curtains, eliminating the need for supplemental treatments or more complicated hardware.&nbsp; And I hope you can see the simple gilt fillet at the top of the wall, giving definition to the perimeter of the room, an interesting detail given the curtain poles mounted almost to the cornice.<br /><br />Kevin, who&nbsp;passed away in 2005,&nbsp;had started his career at McMillen and then at Parish-Hadley before founding his own firm so he was well-versed in how to create proper curtains.&nbsp; Later in his career, he and his life partner founded Christopher Norman Inc., a to-the-trade source&nbsp;which was at the forefront of having French and Italian-style silk woven in the Far East at more affordable prices, making silk curtains, etc., more popular to a wider market.&nbsp; More about Kevin McNamara will appear in future posts of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/">The Devoted Classicist.</a>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-71589337310409954132015-03-27T11:27:00.000-05:002015-03-27T11:27:54.300-05:00Florence de Dampierre<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yNhWptEN2Vk/VRVwFlKkikI/AAAAAAAAKtI/S7gHSGqhVNY/s1600/Dampierre_PaintedSecretaire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yNhWptEN2Vk/VRVwFlKkikI/AAAAAAAAKtI/S7gHSGqhVNY/s1600/Dampierre_PaintedSecretaire.jpg" height="400" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A painted </em>secrétaire à abattant <em>from</em><br /><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0847808041">THE BEST OF PAINTED FURNITURE</a></td></tr></tbody></table>The first U.S. shop devoted entirely to eighteenth and nineteenth-century painted furniture, Florence de Dampierre Antiques, opened in New York City in 1985. &nbsp;Immediately, it was a great success, drawing popular decorators and A-List clients to the SoHo shop.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16YogVaHk7E/VRVwRlkJzXI/AAAAAAAAKtQ/vfz1vBgjxCU/s1600/Dampierre_Florence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16YogVaHk7E/VRVwRlkJzXI/AAAAAAAAKtQ/vfz1vBgjxCU/s1600/Dampierre_Florence.jpg" height="200" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Florence de Dampierre</em></td></tr></tbody></table>In addition to being a dealer in the loveliest antique furniture, Florence de Dampierre has designed limited edition reproductions and has written five successful books.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nSrQ81FRXRE/VRVwyGl9PrI/AAAAAAAAKtY/uXojh5cdCQE/s1600/Dampierre_Books.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nSrQ81FRXRE/VRVwyGl9PrI/AAAAAAAAKtY/uXojh5cdCQE/s1600/Dampierre_Books.png" height="86" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Books by Florence de Dampierre.</em><br /><em>Image from <a href="http://www.florencedammpierre.com/">www.florencedammpierre.com</a></em></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0847835944">WALLS: THE BEST OF DECORATIVE TREATMENTS</a>&nbsp;is especially noteworthy as it features&nbsp;a University Park/Dallas renovation project by John Tackett Design.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXnhSLIpcOY/VRV1gJxrKFI/AAAAAAAAKtk/O3CPDK55_q4/s1600/Dampierre_JohnTackettDesign_GardenRoom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXnhSLIpcOY/VRV1gJxrKFI/AAAAAAAAKtk/O3CPDK55_q4/s1600/Dampierre_JohnTackettDesign_GardenRoom.png" height="640" width="473" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A John Tackett Design project featured in</em><br /><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0847835944">WALLS: THE BEST OF DECORATIVE TREATMENTS</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Florence de Dampierre will present a talk using images from her books as well as her own interior design projects as a guest of <a href="http://www.decorativeartstrust.com/">Decorative Arts Trust</a>, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Saturday March 28, 2015, 10:30 am in the museum auditorium. &nbsp;The public is invited and the event is free with museum admission.John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-86017208763125474522015-03-24T17:31:00.000-05:002015-03-25T10:28:48.624-05:00Displaying Collections<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lSn2rA-hrfA/VRCCIcrqguI/AAAAAAAAKpY/mNzTufjmvIk/s1600/col._Soane_AtriumFrontToBackSection.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lSn2rA-hrfA/VRCCIcrqguI/AAAAAAAAKpY/mNzTufjmvIk/s1600/col._Soane_AtriumFrontToBackSection.png" height="400" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Sir John Soane's house in London is now a museum.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Of course a whole book or series of talks could be developed to show wonderful ways to display a collection in one's home.&nbsp; Here are just a few examples from exceptional homes to be featured to a greater extend in future posts of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2010/12/bit-more-about-me.html?m=1">The Devoted Classicist.</a><br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azfiiQ_Z62E/VRCCgkNhU5I/AAAAAAAAKpg/p58Jv4fvJVM/s1600/Col._SoaneAtriumColorPhoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azfiiQ_Z62E/VRCCgkNhU5I/AAAAAAAAKpg/p58Jv4fvJVM/s1600/Col._SoaneAtriumColorPhoto.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Sir John Soane's Museum.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>In case you thought the first image was a fantasy, it was not.&nbsp; A fragment-filled atrium rises the full height of the house, from the basement to the skylight in the roof.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1112x-FmruE/VRCCzbFFJDI/AAAAAAAAKpo/q2R-YjpgIWk/s1600/col._SoanePictureGallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1112x-FmruE/VRCCzbFFJDI/AAAAAAAAKpo/q2R-YjpgIWk/s1600/col._SoanePictureGallery.jpg" height="400" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Sir John Soane's Museum.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Soane's picture gallery uses an ingenious method of hinged panels to hang a multitude of paintings in the gallery space.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfBV71vAqwY/VRCBi7T8CnI/AAAAAAAAKpQ/i2oGi7Q2lcU/s1600/Col._Soane_SectionPictureGallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfBV71vAqwY/VRCBi7T8CnI/AAAAAAAAKpQ/i2oGi7Q2lcU/s1600/Col._Soane_SectionPictureGallery.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A section through Sir John Soane's Museum.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Soane's house is particularly remarkable for both the diversity of spaces within the standard townhouse city lot and the exceptional use of natural light.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGKYulxv49c/VRCDM2iD9wI/AAAAAAAAKpw/47uCr7UFUWk/s1600/Col._Frick_ExteriorVintage_frick.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGKYulxv49c/VRCDM2iD9wI/AAAAAAAAKpw/47uCr7UFUWk/s1600/Col._Frick_ExteriorVintage_frick.png" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Henry Clay Frick House, New York City.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Henry Clay Frick House at 1 East 70th Street in New York City is particularly interesting in this discussion because it was designed and built as a residence with the intent that it would become a museum.&nbsp; Frick died in 1919 but his wife continued to live in the house until her death in 1931 and it opened&nbsp;to the public&nbsp;in 1935 with some alterations and additions&nbsp;to accommodate that use.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lxqEVMaXPo0/VRCDgvlVKSI/AAAAAAAAKp4/yV3HNQun-C8/s1600/col._Frick_Gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lxqEVMaXPo0/VRCDgvlVKSI/AAAAAAAAKp4/yV3HNQun-C8/s1600/col._Frick_Gallery.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Frick Gallery.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Frick Gallery was part of the original mansion with the pictures hanging in a traditional manner.&nbsp; The collection is available for viewing on-line and is a wonderful way to spend some time.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4TYI2x9o8w/VRCDzFULkWI/AAAAAAAAKqA/eyV0j0gV4xQ/s1600/Col._PeacockRm_Freer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4TYI2x9o8w/VRCDzFULkWI/AAAAAAAAKqA/eyV0j0gV4xQ/s1600/Col._PeacockRm_Freer.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Peacock Room</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Peacock Room, now in the Freer Gallery in Washington, DC, is one of the great period rooms in the whole city.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_GwmvEcR2w/VRCEAg8BiQI/AAAAAAAAKqI/AQRalqEN8MA/s1600/Col._PeacockRm_Vintage_Leyland.London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_GwmvEcR2w/VRCEAg8BiQI/AAAAAAAAKqI/AQRalqEN8MA/s1600/Col._PeacockRm_Vintage_Leyland.London.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Peacock Room in 1908 in Detroit.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Peacock Room was originally in the London home of Frederick Leyland before being bought by museum founder Charles Lang Freer for his Detroit mansion in 1904.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lOIBsZY693s/VRCNXHKsULI/AAAAAAAAKqo/jcdO_FDLqcw/s1600/Col_GovPalace_Williamsburg_EntHallA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lOIBsZY693s/VRCNXHKsULI/AAAAAAAAKqo/jcdO_FDLqcw/s1600/Col_GovPalace_Williamsburg_EntHallA.jpg" height="243" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The entrance hall of the Governor's Palace, Williamsburg.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The original Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, VA, burned to the ground in 1781 and was reconstructed in 1931 to 34.&nbsp; Much of the furnishings are based on written accounts and inventories as well as customs of the time.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DDeU9bsLgr8/VRCFN8wQBoI/AAAAAAAAKqY/SsmNV6iPeSA/s1600/Col._MMPost_RussianPorcelainRm_Hillwoood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DDeU9bsLgr8/VRCFN8wQBoI/AAAAAAAAKqY/SsmNV6iPeSA/s1600/Col._MMPost_RussianPorcelainRm_Hillwoood.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Russian Porcelain Room, Hillwood.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Marjorie Merriweather Post had the good fortune to be both rich and married to the Ambassador to the Soviet Union in the 1930s when pre-Bolshevik treasures could be easily bought and exported.&nbsp; A room in her Washington, DC, mansion, Hillwood was refitted to showcase Imperial Russian porcelain.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ff-J9R3sD6s/VRCOCxGdKhI/AAAAAAAAKqw/kaGfJYqnHYE/s1600/Col._AlbertoPinto_EntHallBlueWhite_APinto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ff-J9R3sD6s/VRCOCxGdKhI/AAAAAAAAKqw/kaGfJYqnHYE/s1600/Col._AlbertoPinto_EntHallBlueWhite_APinto.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>An entrance hall in NYC decorated by Alberto Pinto.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The late Alberto Pinto displayed a cache of export furniture discovered from a shipwreck.&nbsp; All the pieces were small but an impact was made by the number of items as wall decoration.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Xu16tcqcT4/VRCOPu2jtvI/AAAAAAAAKq4/rQnTR-btYQI/s1600/Col._BunnyMellon_PorcDisplay_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Xu16tcqcT4/VRCOPu2jtvI/AAAAAAAAKq4/rQnTR-btYQI/s1600/Col._BunnyMellon_PorcDisplay_.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Bunny Mellon's cottage&nbsp;at Oak Spring Farm</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Billionaire Bunny Mellon, who died last year at age 103, lived in a relatively modest cottage on her Upperville, VA estate, surrounded by things she loved.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6wr1VWuDqc/VRCOjJ-dRwI/AAAAAAAAKrA/0B_SgDvqzOU/s1600/col._MarioBuatta_DogPictures_AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6wr1VWuDqc/VRCOjJ-dRwI/AAAAAAAAKrA/0B_SgDvqzOU/s1600/col._MarioBuatta_DogPictures_AD.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Mario Buatta's Living Room</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Decorator Mario Buatta helped to revive a trend for genre paintings of dogs, here displayed with a flourish of ribbon.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPbK11J9pyM/VRCO41knRtI/AAAAAAAAKrI/gtlwpcWxJ6k/s1600/Col._BrookeAstorLibrary_PH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPbK11J9pyM/VRCO41knRtI/AAAAAAAAKrI/gtlwpcWxJ6k/s1600/Col._BrookeAstorLibrary_PH.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Brooke Astor's library in her Park Avenue apartment.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Albert Hadley designed a brass-trimmed red lacquer library to re-display the collection of Vincent Astor's rare book collection in his widow's apartment.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8XDlbV9zRc/VRCQh52KS0I/AAAAAAAAKrU/NrbDCP-u8Hc/s1600/col_BurdenBathDressing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8XDlbV9zRc/VRCQh52KS0I/AAAAAAAAKrU/NrbDCP-u8Hc/s1600/col_BurdenBathDressing.jpg" height="362" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The bathroom/dressing room of Carter Burden, Jr</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Decorator Mark Hampton created a lavish gentleman's retreat for rare book collector Carter Burden, Jr. in his Fifth Avenue apartment.&nbsp; See more at a previous post, <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2015/03/mark-hampton-for-susan-and-carter.html?m=1">"Mark Hampton for Susan and Carter Burden."</a><br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-83cbMwe-2uc/VRCQ0LB3I6I/AAAAAAAAKrc/Dr9Nu-V8TUI/s1600/Col._BillBlassCloset-habituallychic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-83cbMwe-2uc/VRCQ0LB3I6I/AAAAAAAAKrc/Dr9Nu-V8TUI/s1600/Col._BillBlassCloset-habituallychic.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Bill Blass' closet/dressing room.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>One would expect the late fashion designer Bill Blass' closet to be as handsome and tailored as his own wardrobe.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uTqivaaVr_s/VRCREyNU0xI/AAAAAAAAKrk/IHB17QrYtcY/s1600/Col._MariahCarey_Shoes_MarioBuatta_InStyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uTqivaaVr_s/VRCREyNU0xI/AAAAAAAAKrk/IHB17QrYtcY/s1600/Col._MariahCarey_Shoes_MarioBuatta_InStyle.jpg" height="244" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Mariah Carey's Shoe Closet</em></td></tr></tbody></table>And one would expect singer/song-writer Mariah Carey's shoe closet to have a fairy tale quality to it.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awOKBYuLh-E/VRCRUWyCztI/AAAAAAAAKrs/mth1DHTCcm4/s1600/Col._Malouf_WineRoomNevada_aol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awOKBYuLh-E/VRCRUWyCztI/AAAAAAAAKrs/mth1DHTCcm4/s1600/Col._Malouf_WineRoomNevada_aol.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The wine cellar of the Malouf residence, Nevada.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Home wine cellars are usually best decorated with the wine bottles themselves and hard, cool surfaces.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LRJvT6p46Ag/VRCRpPnPklI/AAAAAAAAKr0/YGErA3xX9Dg/s1600/Col._BarbraStreisand_DollShop_ArchRecord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LRJvT6p46Ag/VRCRpPnPklI/AAAAAAAAKr0/YGErA3xX9Dg/s1600/Col._BarbraStreisand_DollShop_ArchRecord.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The basement of Barbra Streisand's Malibu home.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Barbra Streisand's renovated home in Malibu has a basement arranged as a shopping mall of stores to display her various collections.&nbsp; This is set up as a doll shop.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-falmokvI4IM/VRCR8kFeYcI/AAAAAAAAKr8/HXNCYj5vu5I/s1600/Col._MalplaquetEntranceHall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-falmokvI4IM/VRCR8kFeYcI/AAAAAAAAKr8/HXNCYj5vu5I/s1600/Col._MalplaquetEntranceHall.jpg" height="400" width="292" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Malplaquet House</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0neU3CU0bE/VRCSNpzjiBI/AAAAAAAAKsE/IDY3cdAnpWs/s1600/Col._Malplaquet_Busts_HallChimneypiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0neU3CU0bE/VRCSNpzjiBI/AAAAAAAAKsE/IDY3cdAnpWs/s1600/Col._Malplaquet_Busts_HallChimneypiece.jpg" height="244" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Malplaquet House</em></td></tr></tbody></table>One of London's most fantastic and eccentric private homes belongs to connoisseurs of the decorative arts Todd Longstaffe-Gowan and Tim Knox.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvI1SAjIHZU/VRCS1mUoraI/AAAAAAAAKsU/Q1PAATDKbls/s1600/col._Malplaquet_Shells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvI1SAjIHZU/VRCS1mUoraI/AAAAAAAAKsU/Q1PAATDKbls/s1600/col._Malplaquet_Shells.jpg" height="340" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Malplaquet House</em></td></tr></tbody></table>We have been fortunate to have had Todd come to Memphis to speak on two occasions to the members of <a href="http://www.decorativeartstrust.com/">Decorative Arts Trust,</a> a support group for Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.&nbsp; (I&nbsp;serve on the Board of Directors as&nbsp;President Emeritus).<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErFbBX5ITws/VRCSiMJK1pI/AAAAAAAAKsM/At6NcMZ-o7g/s1600/col._Malplaquet_BlueBathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErFbBX5ITws/VRCSiMJK1pI/AAAAAAAAKsM/At6NcMZ-o7g/s1600/col._Malplaquet_BlueBathroom.jpg" height="400" width="392" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A bathroom at Malplaquet House, London.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>See more of Malplaquet House on a previous post of The Devoted Classicist <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2013/03/malplaquet-house.html?m=1">here.</a><br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1HWQWtACQ0/VRCUD_X4f3I/AAAAAAAAKsg/Aap-BajSqno/s1600/col._Hoak_Luncheon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1HWQWtACQ0/VRCUD_X4f3I/AAAAAAAAKsg/Aap-BajSqno/s1600/col._Hoak_Luncheon.png" height="400" width="312" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The renovated Luncheon Room, University Park, Texas.</em><br /><em>A project by John Tackett Design.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>A wonderful project of my own a number of years back involved a complete renovation and additions to a Tudor Revival house in the Volk Estates section of University Park (Dallas).&nbsp; Here a collection of prints of decoration from Attic vases mix with a collection of basalt Wedgwood (both covering two more walls).<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nruegbwcAW0/VRCVQpFW1oI/AAAAAAAAKso/2l3dFjWoGhM/s1600/col._Hoak_Library_GolfTrophies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nruegbwcAW0/VRCVQpFW1oI/AAAAAAAAKso/2l3dFjWoGhM/s1600/col._Hoak_Library_GolfTrophies.png" height="310" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Pine paneled Library addition, University Park, Texas.</em><br /><em>A project by John Tackett Design.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Library of the same house accommodates an impressive number of silver golf trophies earned by the owners.&nbsp; By placing them among the books in this comfortable sitting room, the trophies may be enjoyed on a daily basis.&nbsp; Read more about this library of reclaimed pine <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-library-of-reclaimed-pine.html?m=1">here.</a><br /><br />This post is a record of the images presented by John J. Tackett&nbsp;on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 as part of a talk given to the ladies of the Little Glass Club, Memphis, to give just a few examples of how a personal collection might be displayed for maximum enjoyment.<br /><br /><br />John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-3787212036077915642015-03-22T15:59:00.001-05:002015-03-22T15:59:28.910-05:00Mark Hampton for Susan and Carter Burden, 1020 Fifth Avenue<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LUXE1sftJU/VQ4Quvjt0hI/AAAAAAAAKl8/A2_--2JcS8M/s1600/Burden_HG_DrawingRoom_TheDevotedClassicist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LUXE1sftJU/VQ4Quvjt0hI/AAAAAAAAKl8/A2_--2JcS8M/s1600/Burden_HG_DrawingRoom_TheDevotedClassicist.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Drawing Room of the Burden apartment.</em><br /><em>Photo by&nbsp;Scott Frances&nbsp;for HG magazine.</em><br /><em>All magazine images via Toby Worthington.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The previous post of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-travellers-classical-rondels.html?m=1">The Devoted Classicist</a> gave a view into the apartment of <strong>Susan and Carter Burden </strong>at 1020 Fifth Avenue, New York City.&nbsp; Decorated by <strong>Mark Hampton</strong>, it was published with great fanfare, appearing on the cover of the September, 1992 issue of HG magazine.<br />﻿﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P02i1EWXtz4/VQ4R-A4EfiI/AAAAAAAAKmE/fa7mMu6agoE/s1600/Burden_HG_ThumbnailCollections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P02i1EWXtz4/VQ4R-A4EfiI/AAAAAAAAKmE/fa7mMu6agoE/s1600/Burden_HG_ThumbnailCollections.jpg" height="640" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Details of the Burden apartment.</em><br /><em>Photos by Scott Frances for HG magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The magazine article, written by the Burdens' friend <strong>John Richardson</strong> did not reveal the owners' names, but it was not hard to figure it out.&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-erWU23rgjWE/VQ8gD-oVAeI/AAAAAAAAKns/5kIFe5qSy7k/s1600/Burden_HG_ExtRendering.Cropped_DouglasEllimanOffering_columbia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-erWU23rgjWE/VQ8gD-oVAeI/AAAAAAAAKns/5kIFe5qSy7k/s1600/Burden_HG_ExtRendering.Cropped_DouglasEllimanOffering_columbia.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>An exterior rendering of 1020 Fifth Avenue</em><br /><em>from the original Douglas-Elliman offering.</em><br /><em>Via Columbia University Library.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The building is very distinctive, even from the interior.&nbsp; And Hampton had decorated Carter Burden's previous apartment at The Dakota when he was married to Amanda Mortimer.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lOmxOxl52Wc/VQ8cvMeuoSI/AAAAAAAAKng/YI0HLfUQ3Ns/s1600/Burden_HG_FloorPlanCropped_columbia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lOmxOxl52Wc/VQ8cvMeuoSI/AAAAAAAAKng/YI0HLfUQ3Ns/s1600/Burden_HG_FloorPlanCropped_columbia.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The original floor plan of the 11th floor</em><br /><em>of 1020 Fifth Avenue, NYC.</em><br /><em>Via Columbia University Library.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Burdens bought the eleventh floor of 1020 Fifth for $4.9 million in 1990.&nbsp; With the help of my friend and former Parish-Hadley co-worker <strong>Oscar Shamamian </strong>of <a href="http://www.fergusonshamamian.com/">Ferguson &amp; Shamamian Architects,</a> the whole-floor apartment was completely remodeled to showcase Burden's art and rare book collection.&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9IydFIUehOY/VQ4TIjFsgkI/AAAAAAAAKmU/1aCG0hv216E/s1600/Burden_HG_EleventhFloorText_columbia.edu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9IydFIUehOY/VQ4TIjFsgkI/AAAAAAAAKmU/1aCG0hv216E/s1600/Burden_HG_EleventhFloorText_columbia.edu.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Description from the original offering</em><br /><em>by Douglas-Elliman.</em><br /><em>Via Columbia University Library.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The building, designed by Warren &amp; Wetmore (best known for Grand Central Terminal) and completed in 1925, is notable for six of the 13 apartments having drawing rooms with ceiling heights up to 18 feet.&nbsp; It is one of the most desirable Pre-War co-op buildings in Manhattan.&nbsp; The original price for the eleventh floor was $120,000.&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ghmdCSgP4po/VQ8mgxDe_SI/AAAAAAAAKn8/QV0OByq9ygc/s1600/Burden_HG_1020Fifth_buildingSectionCropped_columbia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ghmdCSgP4po/VQ8mgxDe_SI/AAAAAAAAKn8/QV0OByq9ygc/s1600/Burden_HG_1020Fifth_buildingSectionCropped_columbia.png" height="400" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Building section of 1020 Fifth Avenue</em><br /><em>from the original Douglas-Elliman offering.</em><br /><em>Via Columbia University Library.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>When Susan Burden placed the 11 room apartment on the market in 2002, the price was $23.5 million.&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpp-eBj4QGM/VQ4VyFvq4QI/AAAAAAAAKmo/ILesDfnvk_w/s1600/Burden_HG_LIB_edited-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpp-eBj4QGM/VQ4VyFvq4QI/AAAAAAAAKmo/ILesDfnvk_w/s1600/Burden_HG_LIB_edited-1.png" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Library of the Burden apartment.</em><br /><em>Photo by Scott Frances for HG magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The HG article mentions that the Burdens used the Drawing Room for most activities, but there was also a smaller sitting room, a Library.&nbsp; As the text of the magazine article points out, it was inspired by the library that Emilio Terry designed for the British Embassy in Paris.&nbsp; After Carter Burden's death in 1996 at age 54, much of his collection of rare books, valued at $10 million, went to the Morgan Library.&nbsp; (But the shelves were not left completely bare; in 2009, an electronics installer was convicted of taking more than $1 million in books, including a signed F. Scott Fitzgerald valued at $500,000).<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7ai28Zg5uk/VQ8m-oCN4eI/AAAAAAAAKoE/HPy1vAYHPj4/s1600/Burden_HG_DinRm_Cropped_TheDevotedClassicist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7ai28Zg5uk/VQ8m-oCN4eI/AAAAAAAAKoE/HPy1vAYHPj4/s1600/Burden_HG_DinRm_Cropped_TheDevotedClassicist.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Dining Room of the Burden apartment</em><br /><em>at 1020 Fifth Avenue as decorated by Mark Hampton.</em><br /><em>Photo by Scott Frances for HG magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Dining Room, with a 10 ft ceiling like the other family rooms after the Drawing Room, was put into service when the Burdens entertained, as they often did in the early 1990s.&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fU4F7SIY6I/VQ8n1ZL6ATI/AAAAAAAAKoM/ABmXB_ety6Q/s1600/Burden_Dressing_One.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fU4F7SIY6I/VQ8n1ZL6ATI/AAAAAAAAKoM/ABmXB_ety6Q/s1600/Burden_Dressing_One.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Carter Burden's Bath/Dressing Room.</em><br /><em>Photo via Corinne Gilbert.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Another book and art-filled room was Carter Burden's Dressing/Bathroom.&nbsp; Much like any other room furnished by Mark Hampton, it just happens to include plumbing fixtures.&nbsp; The&nbsp;antique w.c.&nbsp;was discretely located around a corner behind a gothick folding screen.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q57LZe2yD7Q/VQ8odatyLrI/AAAAAAAAKoU/-xfvJRM4TMU/s1600/Burden_HG_SusanAndCarterBurden_Cropped_gettyimages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q57LZe2yD7Q/VQ8odatyLrI/AAAAAAAAKoU/-xfvJRM4TMU/s1600/Burden_HG_SusanAndCarterBurden_Cropped_gettyimages.jpg" height="320" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Susan and Carter Burden, Jr.,</em><br /><em>January, 1990.</em><br /><em>Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd, Getty Images.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Carter Burden, Jr., was a great-great-great grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the richest men in American history.&nbsp; After&nbsp;working as an aid to Robert Kennedy, Carter Burden served on the New York City Council from 1969 to 1977 although attempts at other public&nbsp;offices were not successful.&nbsp; At one time, he owned the Village Voice newspaper and&nbsp;New York Magazine, and then a conglomeration of radio stations.&nbsp; For those keeping track, first wife Amanda was the daughter of legendary style icon Barbara "Babe" Paley from her first husband Stanley Grafton Mortimer, Jr., heir to a Standard Oil fortune;&nbsp;Amanda went on to marry Steve Ross, head of Warner Communications, and is now in a long term relationship with television personality Charlie Rose.&nbsp; Susan Burden serves on the Board of Directors of the Carter Burden Center for Aging.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTET4-Q26Cg/VQ8pzGj3kII/AAAAAAAAKog/vGyI1aryEXw/s1600/Burden_HG_ref_MarkHampton_InOwnLivRm_tmag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTET4-Q26Cg/VQ8pzGj3kII/AAAAAAAAKog/vGyI1aryEXw/s1600/Burden_HG_ref_MarkHampton_InOwnLivRm_tmag.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Mark Hampton in his own Manhattan&nbsp;Living Room.</em><br /><em>Photo: T Magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Mark Hampton died in 1998 at age 58.&nbsp; Obviously, he was proud of this project; it appears on the dust jacktet of the 2009 book <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0847832880">MARK HAMPTON: AN AMERICAN DECORATOR</a>&nbsp;by his wife Duane Hampton. In&nbsp;ways more than just one, the decoration of the apartment was an example of the end of an era fueled by the Reaganomics of the time.&nbsp;But there is every indication that there is a rebirth in traditional decoration just beginning to flower with prime Manhattan residential&nbsp;real estate in demand as ever and suppliers re-issuing hand-blocked chintz, handmade trims, and custom wallcoverings.&nbsp; Misters Hampton and Burden would be pleased.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5waECnaVF4/VQ8qWige2MI/AAAAAAAAKoo/IqQPmKklLVo/s1600/Burden_HG_BookCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5waECnaVF4/VQ8qWige2MI/AAAAAAAAKoo/IqQPmKklLVo/s1600/Burden_HG_BookCover.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Drawing Room of the Burden apartment</em><br /><em>at 1020 Fifth Avenue, NYC,</em><br /><em>appears on the cover of the Mark Hampton book.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-34430340591754164802015-03-08T17:50:00.001-05:002015-03-09T13:51:30.587-05:00The Travellers: Classical Rondels<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hw45ZJnfo3w/VP3q5L_bFYI/AAAAAAAAKlE/UR1SvJG7PRY/s1600/Burden_Library_PrRondelsEnhanced_Bofferding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hw45ZJnfo3w/VP3q5L_bFYI/AAAAAAAAKlE/UR1SvJG7PRY/s1600/Burden_Library_PrRondelsEnhanced_Bofferding.jpg" height="231" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A pair of rondels depicting classical busts.</em><br /><em>Image: R. Louis Bofferding Decorative and Fine Art.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As&nbsp;a continuation of the on-going but non-sequential posts of exemplary objects being re-used in different settings, this edition features a pair of oil on canvas paintings depicting busts of Jupiter and Diana (or Zeus and Artemis in Greek mythology).&nbsp; With a framed diameter of 41.5 inches, they were surely intended as overdoor decoration as they were painted <em>di sotto in sù</em> (as seen from below).&nbsp; Currently offered for sale by <a href="https://1stdibs.com/dealers/r-louis-bofferding-decorative-and-fine-art/">R. Louis Bofferding Decorative and Fine Art,</a> the paintings are described as mid-eighteenth century&nbsp;English, though perhaps by an Italian hand, a follower of Antonio Verrio.&nbsp; (Verrio, brought to England by the Duke of Montagu, is best known for the frescoed walls of the&nbsp;grand staircase at Hampton Court for King William III).&nbsp; It is not known if they were part of a larger set.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ok1wc7rGyZE/VPzMkUezqDI/AAAAAAAAKkQ/GV6BeDxBJL8/s1600/Burden_Library_Rondel_StripedWalls_BrickHouse_bofferdingnewyork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ok1wc7rGyZE/VPzMkUezqDI/AAAAAAAAKkQ/GV6BeDxBJL8/s1600/Burden_Library_Rondel_StripedWalls_BrickHouse_bofferdingnewyork.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The painting of the bust of Diana</em><br /><em>in the New York home of Gaser Tabakoglu.</em><br /><em>Image via R. Louis Bofferding Decorative and Fine Art.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><strong>Gaser Tabakoglu</strong>, an associate of legendary decorator Renzo Mongiardino, bought the pair from equally-legendary antiques dealer <strong>Christopher Gibbs </strong>in the 1980s.&nbsp; Tobakoglu displayed them in his home on Sloane Street in London and then in the master bedroom of his weekend retreat, Brick House, in upstate New York.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a5AFP9MnM9c/VPzNS1FlFFI/AAAAAAAAKkc/qB4ozf9uSK4/s1600/Burden_Library_realigned_BofferdingnewYork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a5AFP9MnM9c/VPzNS1FlFFI/AAAAAAAAKkc/qB4ozf9uSK4/s1600/Burden_Library_realigned_BofferdingnewYork.jpg" height="400" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The painting of the bust of Zeus</em><br /><em>in the Manhattan apartment of </em><br /><em>the Carter Burdens by Mark Hampton.</em><br /><em>Image via R. Louis Bofferding Decorative and Fine Art.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Bofferding had acquired them for his shop when they were spotted by the late interior designer <strong>Mark Hampton</strong>.&nbsp; Hampton knew they would be perfect for a tall-ceilinged Drawing Room he had decorated&nbsp;in the apartment&nbsp;for <strong>Carter and Susan Burden</strong>, and the Burdens agreed.&nbsp; Hampton added the frames according to Bofferding, the source of much of the factual information&nbsp;used here.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcDsXhYdz_M/VPzOCIx10JI/AAAAAAAAKkk/QNti5Fpkb3I/s1600/Burden_Library_ptg_viaCarolyneRoehm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcDsXhYdz_M/VPzOCIx10JI/AAAAAAAAKkk/QNti5Fpkb3I/s1600/Burden_Library_ptg_viaCarolyneRoehm.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Burden Drawing Room</em><br /><em>as painted by Isabelle Rey.</em><br /><em>Image via Carolyne Roehm.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The rondels do not appear in the published photos of the Burden apartment that appeared in HG magazine or in the Burden chapter of the book <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0847832880">MARK HAMPTON: AN AMERICAN DECORATOR</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Undoubtedly a project&nbsp;of great significance to the designer, a view of the room also appears on the book's dust jacket.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b1W5v7h8ooA/VPzQUW-zmtI/AAAAAAAAKkw/b9aC0CLvQR8/s1600/Burden_Library_DrawingRoom_BookCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b1W5v7h8ooA/VPzQUW-zmtI/AAAAAAAAKkw/b9aC0CLvQR8/s1600/Burden_Library_DrawingRoom_BookCover.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The dust jacket for MARK HAMPTON:</em><br /><em>AN AMERICAN DECORATOR</em><br /><em>features a view of the Burden Drawing Room.</em><br /><em>Image via The Devoted Classicist Library.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Who will be the next caretakers of these delightful decorative paintings?&nbsp; Keep an eye out, Devoted Readers, and let's see if we can spot them again, soon.&nbsp; For other posts in this series, just type in "Travellers" in the SEARCH THIS BLOG feature in the right-hand border of the regular web version of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/">The Devoted Classicist.</a>&nbsp; John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-43325889576797900082015-02-22T16:54:00.000-06:002015-02-26T15:22:34.312-06:00Valerian Rybar: Chic Chaises<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K5Q0RWCgD5I/VOpPXNP-UcI/AAAAAAAAKhE/2k3BqwcQ6_A/s1600/Rybar_Candib_DiningRm_1987_AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K5Q0RWCgD5I/VOpPXNP-UcI/AAAAAAAAKhE/2k3BqwcQ6_A/s1600/Rybar_Candib_DiningRm_1987_AD.jpg" height="400" width="332" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Dining Room, Candib residence,</em><br /><em>Miami Beach, as decorated by Valerian Rybar.</em><br /><em>Image: Architectural Digest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>As another chapter in the&nbsp;sporadic series on high-personality chairs associated with a person of equal stature, this post of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2010/12/bit-more-about-me.html?m=1">The Devoted Classicist</a> presents chairs from a project by interior designer <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2015/02/valerian-rybar-and-jean-francois-daigre.html?m=1">Valerian Rybar.</a><br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cQUdXV8pt4c/VOpXZpr0kcI/AAAAAAAAKhU/D3_Gg3_BXws/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarPairA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cQUdXV8pt4c/VOpXZpr0kcI/AAAAAAAAKhU/D3_Gg3_BXws/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarPairA.jpg" height="350" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A pair of chairs similar to those in the Candib photo</em><br /><em>except that the fabric is different.&nbsp; Pair "A" for reference.</em><br /><em>From ebay at a date not recorded.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Miami Beach residence of <strong>Claudette and Murray Candib</strong> decorated by Rybar was featured in the&nbsp;April issue of Architectural Digest and appeared on the cover.&nbsp; Murray Candib has been credited with creating the first self-service department store and introducing the concept of shopping carts to his chain of stores, King's, that grew to over 200 by the time of his death in 2013 at age 97.&nbsp; The Candibs led an active social and philanthropic lifestyle with their home on the shore of Biscayne Bay given the aura of a villa on the Rivera by Rybar.&nbsp; The magazine article describes the Dining Room as having a ceiling painted as a skyscape and walls painted with green trompe-l'oeil treillage to give the effect of dining alfresco.&nbsp; The floor is marble tile and the dining table is a single slab of green marble on ornate gilt wrought iron supports.&nbsp; No reference is given for the chairs other than a mention that the fabric is from Stroheim &amp; Romann.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-ceJWnmh2A/VOpXy1Jw5FI/AAAAAAAAKhc/MATOfpvAGPk/s1600/Rybar_candib_ChairsSimilarPairA_DetailofBackSupport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-ceJWnmh2A/VOpXy1Jw5FI/AAAAAAAAKhc/MATOfpvAGPk/s1600/Rybar_candib_ChairsSimilarPairA_DetailofBackSupport.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A detail of the back support of Pair "A"</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qIuLjvse10I/VOpX6bozBCI/AAAAAAAAKhk/wK5wnBu16rw/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarPairA_PairPuttiDetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qIuLjvse10I/VOpX6bozBCI/AAAAAAAAKhk/wK5wnBu16rw/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarPairA_PairPuttiDetail.jpg" height="146" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A detail of the painting of Pair "A"</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Nine side chairs appear in the magazine photo, but it would be realistic to believe there was a set of at least twelve.&nbsp; They are in the Italian neo-classical style of the last quarter of the eighteenth-century, but likely to be made in the twentieth-century.&nbsp; Although not impossible, it is difficult to assemble a large number of antique chairs of this sort that would be suitable for use in dining.&nbsp; <br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OC9PZddOuDg/VOpYSbAgUQI/AAAAAAAAKhs/3eQl5ugNbmg/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarPairB_enhanced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OC9PZddOuDg/VOpYSbAgUQI/AAAAAAAAKhs/3eQl5ugNbmg/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarPairB_enhanced.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Pair "B" of chairs currently on ebay.</em><br /><em>Seller: sourcemyeyefordesign</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Adding to the desirablity, it appears that the inside face of each back is painted with a differnt scene of frolicking putti.&nbsp; Regardless of the date, there is no denying that the chairs are chic.&nbsp; <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u77VnHp0kFE/VOpYgc-boBI/AAAAAAAAKh0/3zWwGSIagSs/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarPairB_PuttiDog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u77VnHp0kFE/VOpYgc-boBI/AAAAAAAAKh0/3zWwGSIagSs/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarPairB_PuttiDog.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Detailing from the "B" pair.</em><br /><em>Seller: sourcemyeyefordesign</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jUNFI-K9TuI/VOpYpkWEALI/AAAAAAAAKh8/nf8sYJljYeY/s1600/Rybar_candib_ChairsSimilarPairB_PuttiPipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jUNFI-K9TuI/VOpYpkWEALI/AAAAAAAAKh8/nf8sYJljYeY/s1600/Rybar_candib_ChairsSimilarPairB_PuttiPipe.jpg" height="114" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Detailing from the "B" pair.</em><br /><em>Seller: sourcemyeyefordesign.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3x4XogzIM2c/VOpYzKEFPBI/AAAAAAAAKiE/GBrEmE_iAEk/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarB_Backs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3x4XogzIM2c/VOpYzKEFPBI/AAAAAAAAKiE/GBrEmE_iAEk/s1600/Rybar_Candib_ChairsSimilarB_Backs.jpg" height="144" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The backs of the "B" pair show evidence</em><br /><em>of previous upholstery.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Chairs, similar if not actually the same, have appeared in venues such as ebay, but not much information has been recorded.&nbsp; Knowing there are no bounds to the facts at the fingertips of you Devoted Readers, I ask that all who might have more information please do sign in with a comment below (on the regular <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/">on-line blog site).</a><br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6GCIkjJr7po/VOz2k_RaX5I/AAAAAAAAKiY/urdKp9JfGks/s1600/Rybar_Candib_similarChairsAdlerHouse_viaWilliamMerrill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6GCIkjJr7po/VOz2k_RaX5I/AAAAAAAAKiY/urdKp9JfGks/s1600/Rybar_Candib_similarChairsAdlerHouse_viaWilliamMerrill.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>More chairs.&nbsp; We will reference to these</em><br /><em>as the "C" pair.</em><br /><em>Image via William Merrill.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>ADDENDUM:&nbsp; Thanks to Devoted Reader Will Merrill for sending this image of a pair of similar chairs, perhaps from the same set, from a recent&nbsp;real estate offering of a David Alder house near Chicago.<br /><br />John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-20463133851071534322015-02-17T17:26:00.000-06:002015-02-17T17:26:16.544-06:00Barry Dixon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGIAOIjUIN4/VOPNMx5Cs4I/AAAAAAAAKgk/TQU5Q4QX8HQ/s1600/BarryDixon_INSPIRATIONS_amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGIAOIjUIN4/VOPNMx5Cs4I/AAAAAAAAKgk/TQU5Q4QX8HQ/s1600/BarryDixon_INSPIRATIONS_amazon.jpg" height="400" width="322" /></a></div>All Devoted Readers are invited to meet interior designer <a href="http://www.barrydixon.com/">Barry Dixon</a> this Saturday, February 21, 2015.&nbsp;&nbsp; He&nbsp;will speak at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art at 10:30 am as guest of <a href="http://www.decorativeartstrust.com/">Decorative Arts Trust.</a><br /><br />Born in Memphis, Barry Dixon's work is influenced by a childhood spent in Pakistan, India, Korea, New Caledonia and South Africa.&nbsp; Now based on a 300-plus acre 1907 estate in Fauquier County, Virginia, near Washington, DC, he has created a line of furniture for Tomlinson/Erwin-Lambeth, accessories and furniture for Arteriors, fabrics and trim collections for Vervain, furniture and pendants for Avrett, and a paint line for C2 Paint in addition to serving as principal for his interior design firm.<br /><br />A book-signing will follow the talk with <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/1423607511">BARRY DIXON INSPIRATIONS</a> offered for sale with the proceeds benefitting Decorative Arts Trust.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-35401821396983254862015-02-07T12:57:00.002-06:002015-02-07T12:57:53.429-06:00Valerian Rybar and Jean-Francois Daigre on Sutton Place<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ovH0-ZWZl6I/VNZDJ0GXWFI/AAAAAAAAKek/LobxCQProrI/s1600/Rybar_Levolor_Aug1982_AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ovH0-ZWZl6I/VNZDJ0GXWFI/AAAAAAAAKek/LobxCQProrI/s1600/Rybar_Levolor_Aug1982_AD.jpg" height="640" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Advertisement from August, 1982</em><br /><em>Architectural Digest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Coming across this 1982 advertisement for blinds photographed in the Manhattan apartment of interior designer <strong>Valerian Rybar </strong>brought to mind that the designer, internationally known among the Jet Set&nbsp;Rich and Famous during the 1970s and 80s, might not be a&nbsp;familiar name today.&nbsp; And what better way to present a decorator than with photos of his own home?&nbsp; With his partner <strong>Jean-Francois Diagre</strong>, who was perhaps more famous in Europe but usually regulated to a side remark in U.S. publications, Valerian Rybar (sometimes referred to as Stux-Rybar or Styx-Rybar) lived in a six-room Sutton Place apartment that&nbsp;they completely remodeled in the early 1970s to showcase their talent, leaving no original material or feature visible.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sC9W2jlsAP8/VNZEXg8iHLI/AAAAAAAAKes/GeKO5GFjD_Y/s1600/rybar_ChristiesCatalogCover2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sC9W2jlsAP8/VNZEXg8iHLI/AAAAAAAAKes/GeKO5GFjD_Y/s1600/rybar_ChristiesCatalogCover2003.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Rybar &amp; Daigre&nbsp;in costume for Le Bal Oriental,</em><br /><em>as used for the cover of the 2003 Christie's catalog.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Officially known as Valerian Rybar &amp; Daigre Design Corporation, they promoted being identified as the world's most expensive decorators and undoubtedly worked to make that a reality.&nbsp; Rybar, who was born in Yugoslavia, worked as a trainee at Lord &amp; Taylor department store before designing packaging, displays, and shop interiors for Elizabeth Arden.&nbsp; Rybar joined Daigre in 1968 to stage a spectacular ball for Mr. &amp; Mrs. Antenor Patiño (see widow Beatriz's Paris apartment <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2013/08/notable-homes-beatriz-patino-plaine.html?m=1">in a previous post of The Devoted Classicist here)</a> introducing 1300 guests to their new country house, Quinto Patiño, set in a 200 acre park in Portugal.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1HDrW7Ne250/VNZFIQTFmeI/AAAAAAAAKe0/Z3vIdIlBFe0/s1600/Rybar_Serebriakoff_Portrait_LeBalOriental_1969_ValerianStyxRybar_JeanFrancoisDaigre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1HDrW7Ne250/VNZFIQTFmeI/AAAAAAAAKe0/Z3vIdIlBFe0/s1600/Rybar_Serebriakoff_Portrait_LeBalOriental_1969_ValerianStyxRybar_JeanFrancoisDaigre.jpg" height="400" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Rybar &amp; Daigre&nbsp;at Le Bal Oriental, 1969,</em><br /><em>as documented in watercolor by Alexandre Serebriakoff.</em><br /><em>Image via Scala Regia Inspirational Archives.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The following year, an even more spectacular fete designed by Rybar and Daigre, Le Bal Oriental, was hosted by Alexis von Rosenberg, <strong>Baron de Redé</strong>, at his home in Paris, <strong>Hôtel Lambert</strong>.&nbsp; Read an excerpt from <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/190434903X">ALEXIS: THE MEMOIRS OF THE BARON DE REDE</a> about the famous ball provided by the blog <strong>Scala Regia</strong> <a href="http://scalaregia.blogspot.com/2009/01/oriental-ball-in-1969-has-been.html?m=1">here.</a><br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCoIPBrorHA/VNZWgdAvlLI/AAAAAAAAKfE/NHC3TyiHoJY/s1600/Rybar_Sutton_LivRm_EzraStoller_NYMag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCoIPBrorHA/VNZWgdAvlLI/AAAAAAAAKfE/NHC3TyiHoJY/s1600/Rybar_Sutton_LivRm_EzraStoller_NYMag.jpg" height="322" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Rybar-Daigre Living Room, Sutton Place.</em><br /><em>Photo by Ezra Stoller via New York Magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The coral (more&nbsp;like the orange-ish color of&nbsp;cnidarians than the pink-ish&nbsp;polo shirts)&nbsp;velvet walls of the Living Room had radius corners and mirror-finish stainless steel bands as the base and cornice.&nbsp; Etched steel plates covered the floor accented with a mink rug by <strong>Oscar de la Renta</strong>.&nbsp; Most of the furniture was designed by Rybar and custom made by <strong>Karl Mann</strong>, but there were accents of antiques such as a Boulle tortoiseshell and brass filigree desk, and a carved crystal bust of Ferdinando de' Medici.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZqErYS4Kp8/VNZW_B45HII/AAAAAAAAKfM/cS1mbztQaSg/s1600/Rybar_Sutton_Dining_EtchedSteelFloorPanels_FalseBooks_EzraStoller_NYMAg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZqErYS4Kp8/VNZW_B45HII/AAAAAAAAKfM/cS1mbztQaSg/s1600/Rybar_Sutton_Dining_EtchedSteelFloorPanels_FalseBooks_EzraStoller_NYMAg.jpg" height="400" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Rybar-Daigre Dining Room, Sutton Place.</em><br /><em>Photo by Ezra Stoller via New York Magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Dining Room had the same steel flooring with walls lined with concealed closet doors that were designed to appear as shelves filled with books; the titles stamped into the leather of the otherwise identical false books spines were written to reflect chapters in the designers' past.&nbsp; An article by Jeff McKay in "New York Magazine" states that the title INTERNATIONAL BOREDOM referred to Rybar's marriage (1956 to 1965) to Irish brewing heiress <strong>Aileen Guiness</strong>, the Jet-Set chatelaine of Luttrellstown Castle near Dublin.&nbsp; Again, custom made furniture filled the room, with Rybar-designed tables covered with batik fabric in this 1972 photo.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EUPEPSrxDDA/VNZXktwOCQI/AAAAAAAAKfU/XU0ifWPHvlQ/s1600/Rybar_Sutton_MBR_bedsideControlConsole_EzraStoller_NYMag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EUPEPSrxDDA/VNZXktwOCQI/AAAAAAAAKfU/XU0ifWPHvlQ/s1600/Rybar_Sutton_MBR_bedsideControlConsole_EzraStoller_NYMag.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The bedside console in the Rybar-Daigre Master Bedroom.</em><br /><em>Photo by Ezra Stoller via New York Magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Master Bedroom's bedside leather console topped with mirror-finish stainless steel was fitted to hold a slim-line telephone handset which also served as an intercom, and controls for the alarm clock, television, stereo, and dimmable lighting as well as the electric blanket.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nmHaTm98UU/VNZYQVQ4PwI/AAAAAAAAKfc/TGGNdNrp3kw/s1600/Rybar_sutton_Closet_AdjHtBench_3wayMirror_EzraStoller_NYMag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nmHaTm98UU/VNZYQVQ4PwI/AAAAAAAAKfc/TGGNdNrp3kw/s1600/Rybar_sutton_Closet_AdjHtBench_3wayMirror_EzraStoller_NYMag.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Rybar-Daigre Dressing Room, Sutton Place.</em><br /><em>Photo by Ezra Stoller via New York Magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Dressing Room with the same low-cut pile caramel carpet as the bathroom was larger than the bedroom.&nbsp; Based on a concept of display, double-hanging rods held suits and&nbsp;sloped shelves held shoes.&nbsp; Translucent plastic drawers held folded shirts and glass shelves held rainbow stacks of sweaters.&nbsp; A 3-way tailor's mirror figured prominently in the space, but the most memorable feature was a bench upholstered in hand-painted pony skin whose height could be electronically adjusted to serve as a luggage rack, ironing board or massage table.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2T7zS33FxhQ/VNZYy_naN0I/AAAAAAAAKfk/sEhsevjuPSQ/s1600/Rybar_Sutton_Bathroom_MasksNancyGrossman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2T7zS33FxhQ/VNZYy_naN0I/AAAAAAAAKfk/sEhsevjuPSQ/s1600/Rybar_Sutton_Bathroom_MasksNancyGrossman.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Rybar-Daigre Master Bathroom, Sutton Place.</em><br /><em>Photo by Ezra Stoller via New York Magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Master Bath featured a custom-made stainless steel bathtub and a lavatory set in a pedestal of marble.&nbsp; Tall mirrored cabinet doors provided storage for toiletries and reflected tortoise-shell faux finished walls and ceiling also punctuated with a section of mirrors.&nbsp; Carefully stitched leather-covered masks by <strong>Nancy Grossman</strong> provided ominous decoration.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ryEVF3d7r_s/VNZazwK9s5I/AAAAAAAAKfw/zEc_ZRsELUo/s1600/Rybar_andr%C3%A9-ostier-la-baronne-guy-de-rothschild-valerian-stux-rybar-paris_Artnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ryEVF3d7r_s/VNZazwK9s5I/AAAAAAAAKfw/zEc_ZRsELUo/s1600/Rybar_andr%C3%A9-ostier-la-baronne-guy-de-rothschild-valerian-stux-rybar-paris_Artnet.jpg" height="400" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Marie-Hélène de Rothschild&nbsp; (wife of Baron Guy de Rothschild</em><br /><em>who owned Hôtel Lambert) with Valerian Rybar at Le Bal Oriental.</em><br /><em>1969 photo via Artnet.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>According to Rybar's 1990 obituary written by Carol Vogel for The New York Times, he was 71 years old and died in his Manhattan home of prostate cancer.&nbsp; Daigre's 1992 New York Times obituary reported that he died of an AIDS-related illness in a Paris hospital at age 56.&nbsp; This notice reported that Daigre had been hired at age 19 to work at designing décor, textiles and packaging for <strong>Christian Dior</strong> before joining Rybar to plan the Patiño ball.&nbsp; It also said Diagre had managed the business side of the firm while continuing to be involved in the planning of gala events.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JTxm88xWS-c/VNZdFy-1JkI/AAAAAAAAKf8/hkhITp0Twd4/s1600/Rybar_PhotoPortrait_Paris1967LeonardNones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JTxm88xWS-c/VNZdFy-1JkI/AAAAAAAAKf8/hkhITp0Twd4/s1600/Rybar_PhotoPortrait_Paris1967LeonardNones.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Valerian Rybar, Paris, 1967.</em><br /><em>Leonard Nones photo via Corbis.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The couple's Paris residence, usually assigned to Daigre in print, was even more opulent and will be featured in a future post of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2010/12/bit-more-about-me.html?m+1">The Devoted Classicist.</a>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-29059140260447404212015-02-05T11:20:00.001-06:002015-02-05T11:20:42.110-06:00Whitehall, Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcBG_o_mDdk/VNLUOTiI7rI/AAAAAAAAKdA/7_kAp5Q8NPo/s1600/whitehall_2_ExteriorTwoWomen1960_StateArchivesofFL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcBG_o_mDdk/VNLUOTiI7rI/AAAAAAAAKdA/7_kAp5Q8NPo/s1600/whitehall_2_ExteriorTwoWomen1960_StateArchivesofFL.jpg" height="313" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Whitehall, the Flagler Museum,</em><br /><em>&nbsp;Palm Beach, Florida, in a 1960 view.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp; Florida History Archives</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a continuation of the previous post of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2015/01/whitehall-palm-beach.html?">The Devoted Classicist,</a> the docent-guided tour of <strong>Whitehall</strong> ends with the return to the Grand Hall.&nbsp; The tour of the Second Floor is aided by a personal&nbsp;audio&nbsp;tape and begins after climbing the main staircase.&nbsp; After&nbsp;ascending to a low landing which also opens to the courtyard, there is a split to a matching pair of triple-runs to the Second Floor.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z4blSnBhZWg/VM0Owd9SyQI/AAAAAAAAKaM/EO1U6Z9TC4E/s1600/Whitehall_2_Landing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z4blSnBhZWg/VM0Owd9SyQI/AAAAAAAAKaM/EO1U6Z9TC4E/s1600/Whitehall_2_Landing.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The marble staircase, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Second Floor held the Master Suite of Henry and Mary Lily Flagler, fourteen guest rooms, twenty-two servants rooms, and nineteen bathrooms.&nbsp; Each guest room included a private bath and a large closet plus a distinctive décor.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Seb02MQB1vE/VM0QCzxGRgI/AAAAAAAAKaU/JnDLhPWqrY0/s1600/Whitehall_HABS_SecondFloorPlan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Seb02MQB1vE/VM0QCzxGRgI/AAAAAAAAKaU/JnDLhPWqrY0/s1600/Whitehall_HABS_SecondFloorPlan.jpg" height="322" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Second Floor Plan as redrawn from the original </em><br /><em>1/8 inch scale&nbsp;plans by Carrère &amp; Hastings.</em><br /><em>Image: Historic American Building Survey</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The central courtyard provided the opportunity for cross ventilation aided by the louvered loggias at the north and south ends.&nbsp; Guest bathrooms without windows and adjacent passages&nbsp;have skylights.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70CMWmJl0n0/VNLVMPLVe9I/AAAAAAAAKdI/UwHF0RM1FxE/s1600/Whitehall_2_Loggia_JT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70CMWmJl0n0/VNLVMPLVe9I/AAAAAAAAKdI/UwHF0RM1FxE/s1600/Whitehall_2_Loggia_JT.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Second Floor Loggia, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Photo by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSKd2HkzUCc/VNLVuIOeNSI/AAAAAAAAKdQ/wAeab6CxUOk/s1600/Whitehall_2_SkylightCombination_JT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSKd2HkzUCc/VNLVuIOeNSI/AAAAAAAAKdQ/wAeab6CxUOk/s1600/Whitehall_2_SkylightCombination_JT.jpg" height="186" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Typical skylights in a guest room passage, left,</em><br /><em>and in a guest bathroom, right.&nbsp; Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Photos by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Today, some of the guest rooms have been converted to exhibit space to display artifacts from the Flaglers.&nbsp; Other guest rooms have been restored to the original <strong>Pottier and Stymus</strong> decorating schemes based on period photographs and historic documents.&nbsp; The rooms were named according to their décor.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VFrlKqZdKgg/VNDzMN9o8_I/AAAAAAAAKaw/VKxVXZD-6V0/s1600/Whitehall_2_ColonialChamber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VFrlKqZdKgg/VNDzMN9o8_I/AAAAAAAAKaw/VKxVXZD-6V0/s1600/Whitehall_2_ColonialChamber.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Colonial Chamber, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Colonial Chamber, the largest guest room, is located at the northeast corner.&nbsp; While most of the bedroom furnishings were ordered to be specially made for Whitehall, this furniture came Flagler's home, Satanstoe, Mamaroneck, New York.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ysv2p51M5E/VNLWa6kwMZI/AAAAAAAAKdY/S_51s2wOaaU/s1600/Whitehall_2_GuestBedrmComb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ysv2p51M5E/VNLWa6kwMZI/AAAAAAAAKdY/S_51s2wOaaU/s1600/Whitehall_2_GuestBedrmComb.jpg" height="310" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Blue, Gold, Green, and Pink</em><br /><em>Guest Bedrooms, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Images: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>In the Master Suite, Henry and Mary Lily Flagler were said to have shared the bedroom, a practice not common in Gilded Age mansions.&nbsp; (He was 72 and she was 35 at the time of the house's completion).&nbsp; The bedroom is decorated in the Louis XV Revival style.&nbsp; Samples of the original bed fabric and wallcovering provided the documentation that allowed reproduction.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77Rw1zEdTYE/VND1i-b9w5I/AAAAAAAAKa8/pXHbYb0ZqKE/s1600/Whitehall_2_MasterBedrm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77Rw1zEdTYE/VND1i-b9w5I/AAAAAAAAKa8/pXHbYb0ZqKE/s1600/Whitehall_2_MasterBedrm.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Master Bedroom, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>There are His and Hers Dressing Rooms with fitted cabinetry.&nbsp; For museum interpretation, some clothing from the period is on display.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bbkPakNJS4E/VNLX1ZHqqrI/AAAAAAAAKdk/mH3GaEkpjkA/s1600/Whitehall_2_MasterBath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bbkPakNJS4E/VNLX1ZHqqrI/AAAAAAAAKdk/mH3GaEkpjkA/s1600/Whitehall_2_MasterBath.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Master Bathroom, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Master Bath is about the size of a typical guest room with slabs of marble forming a tall wainscot and squares of matching marble covering the floor on the diagonal.&nbsp; In addition to a double bowl onyx lavatory and&nbsp;a wood tank flush toilet, there is a bathtub and needle-spray shower stall plus the most modern convenience, a telephone.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gSqdFcJrTFM/VND5bgqULJI/AAAAAAAAKbI/8kK343BLKZ0/s1600/Whitehall_2_SilverMapleRm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gSqdFcJrTFM/VND5bgqULJI/AAAAAAAAKbI/8kK343BLKZ0/s1600/Whitehall_2_SilverMapleRm.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Silver Maple Room, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Silver Maple Room features furniture in the style of the English Arts &amp; Crafts Movement.&nbsp; The bed painted with the Muses of Music on the headboard and the Four Seasons on the footboard is original to the room, as is the chest.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zj0N3nC627I/VNEMiZn4k6I/AAAAAAAAKbY/Xe5BAACUL5w/s1600/whitehall_2_YellowRosesRm_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zj0N3nC627I/VNEMiZn4k6I/AAAAAAAAKbY/Xe5BAACUL5w/s1600/whitehall_2_YellowRosesRm_edited-1.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Yellow Roses Room, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp; Flagler Museum.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The last guest bedroom on the tour is referred to as the Yellow Roses Room which features matching fabric and wallpaper in the "Marechal Rose" pattern reproduced from a fragment behind the mirror over the washbasin.&nbsp; This room was used by Henry Flagler's (male) secretary J.C. Salter, who also usually served as secretary on of the Board of Directors for Flagler's corporations.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJK2TRzj4VY/VNEOykTJs0I/AAAAAAAAKbk/qja1gLbXc2Y/s1600/whitehall_2_morningroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJK2TRzj4VY/VNEOykTJs0I/AAAAAAAAKbk/qja1gLbXc2Y/s1600/whitehall_2_morningroom.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Morning Room, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>At the southwest corner of the Second Floor overlooking Lake Worth is the Morning Room which served as Mrs. Flagler's boudoir.&nbsp; She used it as her personal space for writing letters. practicing the piano, and playing bridge.&nbsp; The Louis XV Revival style folding screen and console piano are original to the room.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yEKi1lIWr0k/VNEV3K7TvzI/AAAAAAAAKb0/UzZIBuXeYsY/s1600/whitehall_2_ServantTypRm2ndFl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yEKi1lIWr0k/VNEV3K7TvzI/AAAAAAAAKb0/UzZIBuXeYsY/s1600/whitehall_2_ServantTypRm2ndFl.jpg" height="340" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A typical servant's room, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Twelve bedrooms for servants once filled the west wing of the Second Floor.&nbsp; Part of this space is now used for exhibitions.&nbsp; In addition, there were ten rooms on the Third Floor for use by the staff of the Flaglers' guests.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mdc8DPsI-i0/VNEXc-lSOVI/AAAAAAAAKcA/FSNJbQsHBos/s1600/whitehall_2_LaundryBldg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mdc8DPsI-i0/VNEXc-lSOVI/AAAAAAAAKcA/FSNJbQsHBos/s1600/whitehall_2_LaundryBldg.jpg" height="330" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Whitehall's Laundry Building can be seen in the </em><br /><em>distance&nbsp;of this 1903 photo of a luncheon on the grounds.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>There was a separate building off the northwest corner of the house that contained the Laundry on the ground floor with rooms for black servants above.&nbsp; It was demolished in 1925.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEOgsQB8mPg/VNOcrBKkT0I/AAAAAAAAKeQ/lnNVwC51C_4/s1600/Whitehall_2_Grille.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEOgsQB8mPg/VNOcrBKkT0I/AAAAAAAAKeQ/lnNVwC51C_4/s1600/Whitehall_2_Grille.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>One of the many original heat grilles in Whitehall.</em><br /><em>The Flaglers typically occupied the house only in</em><br /><em>January and February, but a minimal staff stayed</em><br /><em>there year around.&nbsp; In the humid summer months,</em><br /><em>the house was kept closed with the heat on to</em><br /><em>stabilize the humidity indoors.&nbsp; The grilles are now</em><br /><em>used for air-conditioning to maintain the interior climate.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>In March 1913, Henry Flagler fell down the stairs at Whitehall and broke his hip.&nbsp; At age 83, he never recovered from the injury and died two months later.&nbsp; Mary Lily inherited the bulk of his fortune estimated to be worth between $60 and $100 million.&nbsp; It is complicated to translate that into 2015 dollars, but it could easily be as much as $24 billion today.&nbsp; In any case. she was reportedly the richest woman in the U.S.&nbsp; The house remained closed for the next two seasons, but was opened in 1916 and 1917.&nbsp; She married Robert Worth Bingham in November 1916, and died under suspicious circumstances eight months later.&nbsp; (More may be read about that in <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0517568950">THE BINGHAMS OF LOUISVILLE: THE DARK HISTORY BEHIND ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT FORTUNES).</a>&nbsp; Whitehall was bequeathed to her niece Louise Clisby Wise who sold it to a group of investors who converted it into a hotel with the addition of a 300 room, ten story tower to the rear.&nbsp; The mansion was used as public rooms and special event rooms for the hotel.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W8AgRE9_dRo/VNLYvhdeLLI/AAAAAAAAKds/06lTX8kf-WQ/s1600/whitehall_2_HotelAdditionColorRendering_FloridaHistNetwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W8AgRE9_dRo/VNLYvhdeLLI/AAAAAAAAKds/06lTX8kf-WQ/s1600/whitehall_2_HotelAdditionColorRendering_FloridaHistNetwork.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Whitehall Hotel, 1925 to 1959.</em><br /><em>Image Florida History Network.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Jean Flagler Mathews, Henry Flagler's granddaughter, heard that the hotel was in financial difficulties in 1959 and bought the property.&nbsp; She formed the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum as a nonprofit corporation that opened Whitehall to the public in 1960.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pm0-ZfDdQ7w/VNLZg3igL_I/AAAAAAAAKd0/jYSkz8zw6wg/s1600/whitehall_2_HotelDiningRm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pm0-ZfDdQ7w/VNLZg3igL_I/AAAAAAAAKd0/jYSkz8zw6wg/s1600/whitehall_2_HotelDiningRm.jpg" height="318" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The hotel's dining room remains as a events space.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wQaL9zxCoPM/VNLaGIF_-eI/AAAAAAAAKeA/gHII8W7YZpc/s1600/whitehall_2_FirstFloorPlan_flagler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wQaL9zxCoPM/VNLaGIF_-eI/AAAAAAAAKeA/gHII8W7YZpc/s1600/whitehall_2_FirstFloorPlan_flagler.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>The hotel addition, with the exception of the ground floor, was removed, leaving the hotel dining room as a durable space for events.&nbsp; Adjacent spaces are&nbsp;used for museum-related activities, including the museum store.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3S-llHzaHUo/VNEftTDBuQI/AAAAAAAAKcQ/SOv5kQ2eDFA/s1600/Whitehall_BookPopUp_viaFlaglerMuseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3S-llHzaHUo/VNEftTDBuQI/AAAAAAAAKcQ/SOv5kQ2eDFA/s1600/Whitehall_BookPopUp_viaFlaglerMuseum.jpg" height="190" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0578074990">OUR TOWN: AN IN-DEPTH PICTORIAL HISTORY OF PALM BEACH</a></em><br /><em>is one of the many selections available in the gift shop at Whitehall.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>A separate building in the Beaux Arts Revival style, the Flagler Kenan Pavilion, was completed in 2005.&nbsp; Inspired by Gilded Age railroad stations, the&nbsp;Smith Architectural Group designed the pavilion to accommodate the museum café and serve as another events venue as well as an elaborate exhibition gallery for Railcar No. 91.&nbsp; Henry Morrison Flagler's private railcar, built in 1886 and one of two that he owned, was restored and visitors may walk through to get an idea of luxury travel in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2SXHjDNIVU/VNLQL11tf4I/AAAAAAAAKcs/3tyGp0RcuOU/s1600/Whitehall_FlaglerKeenanInterior_dec2014_TheDevotedClassicist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2SXHjDNIVU/VNLQL11tf4I/AAAAAAAAKcs/3tyGp0RcuOU/s1600/Whitehall_FlaglerKeenanInterior_dec2014_TheDevotedClassicist.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Henry Flagler's private railcar on display</em><br /><em>in the Flagler Kenan Pavilion, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Photo by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Visitors should not fail to admire the spectacular fence when entering and leaving the property.&nbsp; Designed by architects Carrère and Hastings to an important aspect of the whole architectural effect, it is iron with bronze details spanning almost 1,000 feet across the front of the site.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eTIwwMwJDqE/VNLNU4ZYpxI/AAAAAAAAKcg/5Sww1lmgTfQ/s1600/Whitehall_Gates_Dec2014_TheDevotedClassicist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eTIwwMwJDqE/VNLNU4ZYpxI/AAAAAAAAKcg/5Sww1lmgTfQ/s1600/Whitehall_Gates_Dec2014_TheDevotedClassicist.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The entrance gates to Whitehall, Palm Beach.</em><br /><em>Photo by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://www.flaglermuseum.us/">The Flagler Museum</a> is to be congratulated on its efforts in conservation and interpretation.&nbsp; A visit to Whitehall offers an educational and insightful look back to America's Gilded Age.John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-20381397522681894422015-01-28T10:22:00.000-06:002015-01-28T10:22:24.868-06:00Whitehall, Palm Beach<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O9ZF4quIIXE/VMK-aM0SX7I/AAAAAAAAKVM/ml_zt2iaEvg/s1600/Whitehall_ExtGen_Dec2014_TheDevotedClassicist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O9ZF4quIIXE/VMK-aM0SX7I/AAAAAAAAKVM/ml_zt2iaEvg/s1600/Whitehall_ExtGen_Dec2014_TheDevotedClassicist.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Whitehall, Flagler Museum, December 2014.</em><br /><em>Photo by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>One of the great American mansions of the <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilded_Age">Gilded Age</a> is Whitehall, built as a wedding gift from Standard Oil tycoon, Henry Flagler, to his third wife.&nbsp; Inspired by the neoclassical&nbsp;architecture of The White City, as the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893, Chicago, was called, Whitehall was built as an example of Western Culture brought to its full glory in America.<br />﻿﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mArayi3YppY/VMf5i3xR88I/AAAAAAAAKZQ/CFVpmnDgVzY/s1600/WhitehallBlkWhtExtViewCarrereHastings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mArayi3YppY/VMf5i3xR88I/AAAAAAAAKZQ/CFVpmnDgVzY/s1600/WhitehallBlkWhtExtViewCarrereHastings.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Whitehall, now the Flagler Museum, Palm Beach.</em><br /><em>Image: Historic American Building Survey</em></td></tr></tbody></table><em></em><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Flagler, a self-made man with an eighth grade education, had both failures and successes as a businessman before borrowing money from a relative to join Samuel Andrews in becoming one of three founding partners in John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company in 1870.&nbsp; Flagler was Secretary and Treasurer, helping to establish the company as a multi-state corporation, establishing a foundation for a new business template that developed into the format used today.&nbsp; This was a time of great economical growth, with industrialization increasing productivity and general wealth increasing the standards of living across the population.&nbsp; But it also created a new, super-wealthy class with the top 10% owning roughly three-fourths of the nation's wealth.&nbsp; Standard Oil became the most prosperous and monopolizing oil empire of the time and Flagler, in these years before federal income tax,&nbsp;became one of the richest men in the world.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTW0gcroqjM/VMkIoh6s2OI/AAAAAAAAKZw/YXv27GfRLiM/s1600/Whitehall_PonceDeLeonAerial.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTW0gcroqjM/VMkIoh6s2OI/AAAAAAAAKZw/YXv27GfRLiM/s1600/Whitehall_PonceDeLeonAerial.png" height="236" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Flagler's Hotel Ponce de Leon, St. Augustine, Florida.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp; Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>By 1876, Flagler's wife, the former Mary Harkness, was essentially an invalid, and the couple went to Florida for recuperation.&nbsp; But Florida was undeveloped at the time, except for a few coastal towns, but with substandard lodgings and little entertainment.&nbsp; The warm weather helped temporarily and the Flaglers returned to New York with Mrs. Flagler dying in 1881.&nbsp; In 1883, Flagler married Ida Alice Shourds, a young woman who had attended the first Mrs. during her illness.&nbsp; St. Augustine, Florida, was their honeymoon destination.&nbsp; Flagler was so captivated by the city and its potential as a resort that he decided to take its development as a new challenge and adventure.&nbsp; Flagler hired architects John Carrère and Thomas Hastings, who had just established their own firm after working together at <strong>McKim, Mead, and White</strong>, to design the Hotel Ponce de Leon which opened to great success in 1888.&nbsp; Followed by two others around the same plaza, the three hotels made St. Augustine a destination for the day's rich and famous.<br />﻿﻿﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38wGTBiCxZ8/VMPks1C8UCI/AAAAAAAAKXk/GR-J0mKn0Ag/s1600/Whitehall_HotelPonceDeLeonEntrance_archimaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38wGTBiCxZ8/VMPks1C8UCI/AAAAAAAAKXk/GR-J0mKn0Ag/s1600/Whitehall_HotelPonceDeLeonEntrance_archimaps.jpg" height="358" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Courtyard Entrance to the Hotel Ponce de Leon.</em><br /><em>Image via Archimaps.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Flagler was determined to make the east coast of Florida into the American Riviera.&nbsp; Convenient transportation, of course, was essential;&nbsp; Flagler bought and improved railroads so that it was possible to travel the whole distance by Pullman (sleeping) car from New York City without changing trains.&nbsp; Flagler expanded to Daytona, and then on to West Palm Beach where he built a bridge to the barrier island of&nbsp;Palm Beach where he built the 1,150-room Hotel Royal Poinciana, the world's largest wooden structure at the time.&nbsp; (It opened in 1894 and was enlarged twice, doubling in size each time).&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mlus71mwXTY/VMkKbkkQeaI/AAAAAAAAKZ8/S0eiIOxrc8U/s1600/WhiteHall_royalPoincianaHotel_viaWiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mlus71mwXTY/VMkKbkkQeaI/AAAAAAAAKZ8/S0eiIOxrc8U/s1600/WhiteHall_royalPoincianaHotel_viaWiki.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Flagler's Hotel Royal Poinciana, Palm Beach.</em><br /><em>Image: Wikipedia</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Poinciana was on the shore of Lake Worth, and The Palm Beach Inn (later renamed The Breakers)&nbsp;was built just across the narrow island on the Atlantic&nbsp;coast in 1896.&nbsp; These two hotels with the railroad access helped make Palm Beach a winter destination for the wealthiest of society during America's Gilded Age.﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UE7YT0JCPDQ/VMPkD7oYuPI/AAAAAAAAKXc/Fq7tCKtFPM8/s1600/Whitehall_Map_FloridaEastCoastRailway_1926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UE7YT0JCPDQ/VMPkD7oYuPI/AAAAAAAAKXc/Fq7tCKtFPM8/s1600/Whitehall_Map_FloridaEastCoastRailway_1926.jpg" height="640" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A 1926 map of the Florida East Coast Railroad</em><br /><em>showing resort locations.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>As a side note, there is a lot more to the story of Flagler's contributions to the development of south Florida than most may realize.&nbsp; Flagler consolidated his various railroads into the Florida East Coast Railway in 1895.&nbsp; When a freeze hit Palm Beach that year, but not the area 60 miles to the sough, Flagler extended the railroad to the settlement at the mouth of the Miami River where <strong>Julia Tuttle</strong>, an acquaintance of John D. Rockefeller owned 640 acres.&nbsp; With the extension, Tuttle had promised to share half her land;&nbsp; she divided it into small lots and gave Flagler every other lot, forcing him to purchase her plots. Flagler built the Royal Palm hotel in Miami plus a waterworks and sewage system, founded an electric power company, and donated land for the first public school in Miami.&nbsp; Additionally, he helped start the first hospital and gave contributions to churches.&nbsp; Flagler also extended his railroad to Key West, the closest deep-water American port for ships carrying supplies for the building of the Panama Canal.&nbsp; But that is another story.﻿﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fyz_ZIjqlD8/VMLDCEyCvrI/AAAAAAAAKVk/LeMwSeCNbow/s1600/Whitehall_Ad_FloridaEastCoastRailway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fyz_ZIjqlD8/VMLDCEyCvrI/AAAAAAAAKVk/LeMwSeCNbow/s1600/Whitehall_Ad_FloridaEastCoastRailway.jpg" height="400" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>An advertisement for the Florida East Coast Railway and Hotels.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp; Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>In addition to bringing in tourists, Flagler's railroads also brought in supplies for farmers and helped them ship their produce out of Florida.&nbsp; By creating these new supporting facilities for both tourism and agriculture, the state really began to develop at a faster pace.&nbsp; Flagler's contributions never wen unnoticed with the state's politicians, however;&nbsp; as wife Ida Alice had to be institutionalized for mental illness in 1895, and New York did not allow divorce on the grounds of insanity, a change in Florida legislature allowed Flagler to be married a third time, to Mary Lily Kenan in 1901.﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BP54yY8448Q/VMfys4FjkZI/AAAAAAAAKYY/pRRa0XVvkvk/s1600/Whitehall_HenryMaryLilyFlagler_1910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BP54yY8448Q/VMfys4FjkZI/AAAAAAAAKYY/pRRa0XVvkvk/s1600/Whitehall_HenryMaryLilyFlagler_1910.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Mary Lily and Henry Flagler, 1910.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp;Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Carrère and Hastings, who were the architects for the Standard Oil building in addition to having designed a library extension to Flagler's house in Mamaroneck, Long Island, and&nbsp;the previously mentioned Hotel Ponce de Leon, are best known for public buildings such as the New York Public Library, 1911.&nbsp; <br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-2OXseQKHA/VMf0X0_MFJI/AAAAAAAAKYk/sH7euLe9oKM/s1600/NYPubLib_Urns_Enhanced_CarrereHastings_viaWiki_TheDevotedClassicist_edited-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-2OXseQKHA/VMf0X0_MFJI/AAAAAAAAKYk/sH7euLe9oKM/s1600/NYPubLib_Urns_Enhanced_CarrereHastings_viaWiki_TheDevotedClassicist_edited-1.png" height="296" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The monumental urns at the entrance to the New York Public Library</em><br /><em>also designed by Carrère and Hastings.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>But the firm was also noteworthy for their contributions to the country house &amp; garden movement of the early 1900s, including <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2012/01/landmark-manhattan-townhouses-for-sale.html?">Blairsden,</a> 1898, in Peapack, New Jersey, and Nemours, 1910, in Wilmington, Delaware.&nbsp; For city houses, few could compare to the Fifth Avenue home of Henry Clay Fick, 1912-14, now the Frick Collection and currently the subject of a controversial proposed museum expansion.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YlefkMD7VIU/VMPjde4lA5I/AAAAAAAAKXQ/EOjKRLjgR-4/s1600/Whitehall_WrldColumExpo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YlefkMD7VIU/VMPjde4lA5I/AAAAAAAAKXQ/EOjKRLjgR-4/s1600/Whitehall_WrldColumExpo.jpg" height="254" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Both John Carrère and Thomas Hastings had worked in the office of McKim, Mead &amp; White, architects that epitomized The Gilded Age.&nbsp; The World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893, with several buildings by McKim, Mead &amp; White, was dominated by monumental, white, neoclassical buildings washed with electric light.&nbsp; Since the fair was sponsored by the captains of industry, it is not a surprise that it inspired design of their new mansions.&nbsp; The house as a symbol of the owner's appreciation of the arts was the goal of these homeowners wanting to express their social standing in Gilded Age Society.&nbsp; Flager's desire to represent western culture as the ultimate expression could hardly have been better realized than it was with his building of Whitehall.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ETyP2ld3Vg/VMPcg_sRWaI/AAAAAAAAKV4/CRvi7DfpeeY/s1600/Whitehall_DuringConstruction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ETyP2ld3Vg/VMPcg_sRWaI/AAAAAAAAKV4/CRvi7DfpeeY/s1600/Whitehall_DuringConstruction.jpg" height="352" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Whitehall under construction.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The site, bought in 1893, was surveyed in July 1900 for the house completed for the arrival of Flagler and his third wife on February 6, 1902.&nbsp; It was a time when European markets were filled with antiques, making it possible to create a vogue for Period Rooms.&nbsp; That many of the purchases were new instead of old is beside the point in this case;&nbsp; the intent was to express the belief in America as the culmination of western culture, and that did not require an authentic duplication.&nbsp; Whitehall illustrates that combination of the classical tradition with the benefits of late nineteenth-century technology that was indicative of the times.&nbsp; The Flaglers used Whitehall as a winter retreat during the months of January and February, traveling to Palm Beach by private railroad car.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9XGx8KG77k/VMLBJX_4SAI/AAAAAAAAKVc/T2U3rCo_K_A/s1600/Whitehall_HABS_FirstFloorPlan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9XGx8KG77k/VMLBJX_4SAI/AAAAAAAAKVc/T2U3rCo_K_A/s1600/Whitehall_HABS_FirstFloorPlan.jpg" height="324" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The First Floor Plan of Whitehall</em><br /><em>redrawn from the original 1/8 inch scale&nbsp;documents</em><br /><em>to approximate 'as built' drawings.</em><br /><em>Historic American Building Survey.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Grand Hall essentially occupies the entire main block of the house, the whole length of the main floor behind the portico.&nbsp; It is an impressive space, entered through ornate bronze and glass doors originally attended by a uniformed doorman 24 hours a day.&nbsp; Amounting to 5,000 square feet of floor space according to the docent, the floor and walls are covered with seven varieties of marble.&nbsp; </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y0CMsukPqo/VMLAnhoSvEI/AAAAAAAAKVU/RWk78ZfQxS0/s1600/Whitehall_Grand%2BHall%2BA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y0CMsukPqo/VMLAnhoSvEI/AAAAAAAAKVU/RWk78ZfQxS0/s1600/Whitehall_Grand%2BHall%2BA.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Grand Hall, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp; Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>There is no mistaking that it is a twentieth-century and not an eighteenth-century interior, however, because of the proportions.&nbsp; The tour guides claim that Flagler asked that the ornate plaster ornamented and painted ceiling be dropped eight feet from the originally intended height to better relate to human scale.&nbsp; That favoring of the horizontal was a characteristic of the period.&nbsp; Not unusual during this time, the architects created the entrance hall, but the decoration of the other rooms was left to <strong>Pottier and Stymus</strong>, a New York City&nbsp;furniture and design firm&nbsp;prominent in&nbsp;the last half of the nineteenth century.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkp81jjXjvc/VMPdS2-WRAI/AAAAAAAAKWA/MU4hmodg-uE/s1600/Whitehall_Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkp81jjXjvc/VMPdS2-WRAI/AAAAAAAAKWA/MU4hmodg-uE/s1600/Whitehall_Library.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Library, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image:&nbsp; Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>At the south end of the Grand Hall, the Library in the Italian Renaissance style was decorated as a masculine space for Flagler to greet guests and business associates.&nbsp; The lower half of the walls is covered with wood paneling or bookcases with glass doors and the upper half is covered with red damask.&nbsp; The coffered ceiling is plaster, painted to match the wood.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-amI0vObMc1A/VMPemPnQ5nI/AAAAAAAAKWM/f7boIi7IXt4/s1600/Whitehall_MusicRoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-amI0vObMc1A/VMPemPnQ5nI/AAAAAAAAKWM/f7boIi7IXt4/s1600/Whitehall_MusicRoom.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Music Room, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Music Room doubles as an art gallery, and also used for less formal functions such as bridge parties in addition to regular musical performances.&nbsp; There was a resident organist each season to play the 1,249 pipe organ by J.H. &amp; C.S. Odell Company, suppliers for many prominent churches.&nbsp; The use of indirect electric lighting illuminating the copy of Guido Remi's "Aurora" in the central dome is an early use of that technology.&nbsp; <br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FsyV3vqnb0w/VMPe_AztTII/AAAAAAAAKWU/MHbhqhCskLM/s1600/Whitehall_SouthHall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FsyV3vqnb0w/VMPe_AztTII/AAAAAAAAKWU/MHbhqhCskLM/s1600/Whitehall_SouthHall.jpg" height="320" width="203" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The South Hall, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Indirect lighting in the South Hall is also used to wash the ornate barrel vault ceiling.&nbsp; Such subtle electric lighting was not common during this period.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wo0uzNV9Otw/VMgB09VDvmI/AAAAAAAAKZg/cDiS3g4TSYU/s1600/Whitehall_HABS_CourtyardPhoto1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wo0uzNV9Otw/VMgB09VDvmI/AAAAAAAAKZg/cDiS3g4TSYU/s1600/Whitehall_HABS_CourtyardPhoto1972.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Courtyard, Whitehall, in 1972.</em><br /><em>Photo: Historic American Building Survey.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5jsCGAgpmI/VMPgepS55lI/AAAAAAAAKWo/HI-IFs_CU_k/s1600/Whitehall_Courtyard_Dec2014_TheDevotedClassicist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5jsCGAgpmI/VMPgepS55lI/AAAAAAAAKWo/HI-IFs_CU_k/s1600/Whitehall_Courtyard_Dec2014_TheDevotedClassicist.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Courtyard, Whitehall,</em><br /><em>as it appeared December, 2014.</em><br /><em>Photo by John J. Tackett for The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The central Courtyard was a critical feature for air circulation.&nbsp; Here, the European tradition in the Caribbean, notably in Cuba, is observed.&nbsp; The Flaglers sometimes used the space for open-air dinner parties.&nbsp; The marble fountain portrays Venus, after the sculpture by Giovanni da Bologna for the Boboli Gardens in Florence.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DcwsCDaGDEc/VMPhKiQp6nI/AAAAAAAAKWw/o76NF4FGBNI/s1600/Whitehall_GrandBallroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DcwsCDaGDEc/VMPhKiQp6nI/AAAAAAAAKWw/o76NF4FGBNI/s1600/Whitehall_GrandBallroom.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Grand Ballroom, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>A temporary fitted carpet covered the parquet floor of the Grand Ballroom at the time of my visit before New Year's Eve.&nbsp; (There are now other rooms better suited for dancing, so this space is currently&nbsp;used on occassion&nbsp;for formal dinners).&nbsp; <strong>Edward F. Caldwell &amp; Co. </strong>made most of the light fixtures for Whitehall, including these chandeliers with Baccarat crystals and twelve sconces with fruit shaped crystals.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tW9CCAdA3VY/VMf3km7qG9I/AAAAAAAAKZE/QsMlPWaMpYY/s1600/Whitehall_Bal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tW9CCAdA3VY/VMf3km7qG9I/AAAAAAAAKZE/QsMlPWaMpYY/s1600/Whitehall_Bal.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Bal Poudre, March 5, 1903, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The most famous party in the room occurred in 1903, the Bal Poudre given in honor of George Washington's birthday.&nbsp; The New York Herald wrote that it was "one of the most sumptuous social affairs ever attempted south of Washington."<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PeT1uDwM1W4/VMPhpKavmrI/AAAAAAAAKW4/WII4m9MEDSg/s1600/Whitehall_BilliardRoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PeT1uDwM1W4/VMPhpKavmrI/AAAAAAAAKW4/WII4m9MEDSg/s1600/Whitehall_BilliardRoom.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Billiard Room, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Billiard Room was a popular gathering spot for gentlemen after dinner.&nbsp; The interest in sport was a characteristic of the Gilded Age, making a masculine game room popular in mansion during this time.&nbsp; Here the influence of the Arts &amp; Crafts movement is evident in the decoration of the quarter-sawn oak wainscot and plaster beams painted to match.&nbsp; The chimneypiece and window surrounds are Caen stone.&nbsp; There is a record of the 1901 letter from Flagler to Stymus stating, "I have enlarged the billiard room considerably from the original plans."&nbsp; In another letter, he asked for two spittoons for the Billiard Room, one for each of the Offices, and one for the Library.&nbsp; But "Mrs. Flagler says she doesn't want any elsewhere in the house."<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IFrFLLs8MNI/VMfws2_NkhI/AAAAAAAAKYM/sq7PSoHPrXs/s1600/Whitehall_Office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IFrFLLs8MNI/VMfws2_NkhI/AAAAAAAAKYM/sq7PSoHPrXs/s1600/Whitehall_Office.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Mr. Flagler's Office, Whilehall.</em><br /><em>Originally&nbsp;occupying the southwest corner of the house</em><br /><em>adjacent to an office for his assistant, that space</em><br /><em>was altered and is now used for the museum library.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The original Kitchen and Butler's Pantry were altered and that area is now used as business offices for the museum.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55BTzkWmjJk/VMPiWOocYTI/AAAAAAAAKXA/ZI3AZh81oyg/s1600/Whitehall_BreakfastRoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55BTzkWmjJk/VMPiWOocYTI/AAAAAAAAKXA/ZI3AZh81oyg/s1600/Whitehall_BreakfastRoom.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Breakfast Room, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Breakfast Room, inspired by the State Dining Room at Warwick Castle, was used for everyday dining.<br />﻿﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLFOBWmNMiY/VMfvwgmDY1I/AAAAAAAAKX8/KQokkgAbmdg/s1600/Whitehall_DiningRoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLFOBWmNMiY/VMfvwgmDY1I/AAAAAAAAKX8/KQokkgAbmdg/s1600/Whitehall_DiningRoom.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Dining Room, Whitehall.</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The French Renaissance Revival style for the Dining Room was more appropriate than one might first imagine; a masculine décor was chosen because the room was often used by Flagler to entertain men prominent in financial and literary circles.&nbsp; The parquet border was designed to the frame the carpet set in a recess.&nbsp; The existing silk wallcovering is a reproduction of the original.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f5VjwbSs0Ew/VMfwQBeT9uI/AAAAAAAAKYE/HNswnIErLPk/s1600/Whitehall_DrawingRoomA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f5VjwbSs0Ew/VMfwQBeT9uI/AAAAAAAAKYE/HNswnIErLPk/s1600/Whitehall_DrawingRoomA.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Drawing Room, Whitehall</em><br /><em>Image: Flagler Museum</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Drawing Room, at the north end of the Grand Hall and adjacent to the Dining Room, was designed in the Louis XVI Revival style just as one would expect in a neoclassical mansion of the early twentieth-century.&nbsp; Mary Lily Flagler would entertain her friends here with music and conversation.&nbsp; The Steinway piano was made especially for the room.&nbsp; Panels of silk fabric that match the curtains are set within the painted paneling accented with aluminum leaf, a costly and rare material at the time.&nbsp; (A coating of shellac has yellowed, giving it the appearance of Dutch leaf, however).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Returning to the Grand Hall, the excellent docent-led tour ends here.&nbsp; The Second Floor of Whitehall along with the alterations and additions after the Flaglers' deaths will be presented in Part II, the next post of <a href="http://www.tdclassicist.blogspot.com/">The Devoted Classicist.</a></div>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-45772602910761179912015-01-21T11:09:00.000-06:002015-01-21T12:56:09.333-06:00Crème de la Crème<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oh-YSBnlmd8/VL_X4axt46I/AAAAAAAAKUs/EeZEHketTEc/s1600/Ballard_BunnyWilliams_Cachepot_IceCream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oh-YSBnlmd8/VL_X4axt46I/AAAAAAAAKUs/EeZEHketTEc/s1600/Ballard_BunnyWilliams_Cachepot_IceCream.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://m.ballarddesigns.com/products?q=bunny%20williams">'Bunny Williams Silver Wire Cachepot'</a> </em></td></tr></tbody></table><strong>Bunny Williams</strong>, the reining queen of lady decorators, hardly needs an endorsement from <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2010/12/bit-more-about-me.html?">The Devoted Classicist</a> for her extensive range of retail home furnishings.&nbsp; But her new moderately-priced table top collection for <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/">Ballard Designs</a> is especially noteworthy.&nbsp; One stand-out for me, as a (self-proclaimed) ice cream connoisseur, is the cachepot designed to hold a pint container of the frozen treat.&nbsp; Brass with a pewter-color finish and a removable stainless steel liner, who doesn't need at least one?&nbsp; In&nbsp;my ideal world, they would be considered individual containers, but I will leave the necessary quantity for a gracious table to be determined by the host/hostess.&nbsp; And yes, they can be used, instead, to hold flowers&nbsp;or greenery at other&nbsp;times.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEbLthUMgpI/VL_cnEourzI/AAAAAAAAKU4/tpdGmPgAFnk/s1600/Ballard_BunnyWilliams_Cachepot_Topiary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEbLthUMgpI/VL_cnEourzI/AAAAAAAAKU4/tpdGmPgAFnk/s1600/Ballard_BunnyWilliams_Cachepot_Topiary.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-12616220502059735992015-01-10T12:45:00.000-06:002015-01-10T12:45:02.931-06:00Ronda Carman<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uOd7_3nLDCo/VLFfo1kWHvI/AAAAAAAAKTM/EkiIh_do6fY/s1600/Carman_BlogLogo_AllTheBest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uOd7_3nLDCo/VLFfo1kWHvI/AAAAAAAAKTM/EkiIh_do6fY/s1600/Carman_BlogLogo_AllTheBest.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The masthead from Ronda Rice Carman's blog</em><br /><a href="http://allthebestblog.co.uk/">All The Best</a></td></tr></tbody></table>The internationally-renown writer and home-furnishing fabrics&nbsp;entrepreneur <strong>Ronda Rice Carman</strong> is coming to speak as guest of Decorative Arts Trust to Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Saturday, January 17, 2015, 10:30 am.&nbsp; A part of the Trust's education programs to promote the decorative arts, the event is open to the public and free with regular museum admission.﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UgWX5Ejcrxw/VLFiWYSLKqI/AAAAAAAAKTY/cehfvKRZFEQ/s1600/Carman_PhotoPortrait_AllTheBest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UgWX5Ejcrxw/VLFiWYSLKqI/AAAAAAAAKTY/cehfvKRZFEQ/s1600/Carman_PhotoPortrait_AllTheBest.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Ronda Carman</em><br /><em>Photo via <a href="http://allthebestblog.co.uk/">All the Best</a></em></td></tr></tbody></table>Ronda may be best known for her extremely popular blog <a href="http://www.allthebestblog.co.uk/">ALL THE BEST | A PASSPORT TO STYLISH LIVING.</a>&nbsp; The blog gives an up-to-date survey of the happenings in design, fashion, food, and travel, providing an invaluable lifestyle guide to her followers world-wide.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cx6TXW8t0A/VLFm27OmHYI/AAAAAAAAKTk/1LKDE_6BF_g/s1600/Carman_Fabric_StirlingStripeSteel_RCFabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cx6TXW8t0A/VLFm27OmHYI/AAAAAAAAKTk/1LKDE_6BF_g/s1600/Carman_Fabric_StirlingStripeSteel_RCFabric.jpg" height="356" width="400" /></a></div>Drawing on her experiences while living in Scotland, Ronda has introduced&nbsp;an exceptional line of fabrics marketed to the interior design trade as <strong>Ronda Carman Fine Fabrics</strong>.&nbsp; Collections include inspirations from men's suiting and a contemporary twist on traditional plaids, plus the most luxurious leathers in a wide range of colors.&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7MiA4fNYtUA/VLFo5a8O6iI/AAAAAAAAKTw/zoFdRryNs4Q/s1600/book_Carman_DesignersAtHome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7MiA4fNYtUA/VLFo5a8O6iI/AAAAAAAAKTw/zoFdRryNs4Q/s1600/book_Carman_DesignersAtHome.jpg" height="640" width="505" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0847840093">DESIGNERS AT HOME</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Ronda has also reached a wide audience of appreciative readers with her book <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0847840093">DESIGNERS AT HOME: PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON STYLISH LIVING.</a>&nbsp; The book profiles fifty contemporary interior designers including Bunny Williams, Barry Dixon, and Charlotte Moss, and gives a tour of their own homes, illustrating their design philosophies with over 300 color photos.&nbsp; Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event with all the proceeds benefiting Decorative Arts Trust.&nbsp; There will be a book-signing and a chance to personally meet and have a few words with Ronda as well.<br /><br />For more information on the event, see the Calendar of Events on the website of Decorative Arts Trust <a href="https://decorativeartstrust.com/calendars/index/8">here.</a><br /><br />John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-54596276876959999302014-12-23T11:41:00.004-06:002014-12-23T11:41:39.804-06:00Merry Christmas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJNapuQWVgI/VJmeDOveoaI/AAAAAAAAKSE/ULqxI36lOKY/s1600/JohnTackettDesign_Christmas2014_488IslandDrive_PalmBeach_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJNapuQWVgI/VJmeDOveoaI/AAAAAAAAKSE/ULqxI36lOKY/s1600/JohnTackettDesign_Christmas2014_488IslandDrive_PalmBeach_edited-1.jpg" height="640" width="483" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A sketch by John Tackett Design</em><br /><em>for the Small Dining Room of a new house</em><br /><em>proposed for Palm Beach, Florida.</em><br /><a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/">The Devoted Classicist</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a long tradition, over 35 years now, of my making my own holiday greeting cards.&nbsp; Some have been printed with rubber stamps and one year, the fold-out cards were printed using the diazo process, the ammonia vapor "blue-line" print that was used for architectural drawing reproduction at the time.&nbsp; There was even a linoleum block print one year.&nbsp; But by far the most common printing was done by photo-copying my own sketch, using the common Xerox machine and card stock.&nbsp; Usually, a bit of color was added with felt-tipped watercolor pens.&nbsp; The image here was colored with Prismacolor pencils with the wreath added to the bust just for illustration of this post of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/">The Devoted Classicist.</a>﻿</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a1ubnILUfT4/VJidhnG1tUI/AAAAAAAAKRY/CWfgJ_-EwOI/s1600/488IslandDrive_GoogleArial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a1ubnILUfT4/VJidhnG1tUI/AAAAAAAAKRY/CWfgJ_-EwOI/s1600/488IslandDrive_GoogleArial.jpg" height="158" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Image via MapQuest.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>A <strong>John Tackett Design</strong> project is often the subject illustrated for the cover of the card.&nbsp; In recent years, however, it has sometimes been an unrealized project.&nbsp; That commission may have been "put on hold," a status used more often than a definite cancellation.&nbsp; So, the holiday card illustration was an opportunity to revive an old sketch, with a wreath or Christmas tree added, to get one more chance to spark some interest.&nbsp; Such is the case this year.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RXyUbD1mLMQ/VJidyYm0rEI/AAAAAAAAKRg/GqVDSeULBi8/s1600/488IslandDrive_ArielB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RXyUbD1mLMQ/VJidyYm0rEI/AAAAAAAAKRg/GqVDSeULBi8/s1600/488IslandDrive_ArielB.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Image via Christian Angle Real Estate.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The scope of the project was to do a preliminary study to build a new house on a vacant waterside lot at 488 Island Drive, on Everglades Island on the Intercoastal Waterway. <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wklxcZISAo/VJie-C_GI9I/AAAAAAAAKR0/7-KIVmEFf7I/s1600/488IslandDrive_Croppedwaterside.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wklxcZISAo/VJie-C_GI9I/AAAAAAAAKR0/7-KIVmEFf7I/s1600/488IslandDrive_Croppedwaterside.png" height="262" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Image via Christian Angle Real Estate.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The site is a little over a half-acre with water frontage on two sides.&nbsp; There are views to the Lake Worth&nbsp;Lagoon and the marina to the north, and to the golf course of the exclusive Everglades Club to the east.&nbsp; The vacant land is still available, at this writing, and can be yours for $9,975,000.&nbsp; And if you do decide to buy it, please feel free to contact me.&nbsp; I have some great ideas for it.<br /><br />Best wishes to all my Devoted Readers for a very merry Christmas and the happiest New Year ever!John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-49257370032692652402014-12-10T17:50:00.000-06:002014-12-10T17:50:49.560-06:00LaGrange, Tennessee<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2hA_8ZKtQW8/VIdOpiEu9yI/AAAAAAAAKMU/-LJEIeIQIVo/s1600/LaGrange_Church_WatercolorA_JohnJTackett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2hA_8ZKtQW8/VIdOpiEu9yI/AAAAAAAAKMU/-LJEIeIQIVo/s1600/LaGrange_Church_WatercolorA_JohnJTackett.jpg" height="381" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Immanuel Episcopal Church,</em><br /><em>LaGrange, Tennessee, in a mid-1970s view.</em><br /><em>Image by John Tackett/The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>About fifty miles east of Memphis is a charming community that I have known all my life since it was on the way to my father's hometown.&nbsp; However, my first views were limited to the buildings along the highway that I could see from the backseat at 70 miles an hour.﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFm22wQFBzM/VIdQB6-b2CI/AAAAAAAAKMg/88rTZuiUClM/s1600/LaGrange_TopoMap_ArmyEngineer_1862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFm22wQFBzM/VIdQB6-b2CI/AAAAAAAAKMg/88rTZuiUClM/s1600/LaGrange_TopoMap_ArmyEngineer_1862.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A map of LaGrange, Tennessee, 1862.</em><br /><em>U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>But by the time I was old enough to chauffeur my parents, I took advantage of the rule of The Driver's Perogative and would cruise slowly through the town and even detour to some of the side streets of LaGrange.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IxW3UIZtIiw/VIdTbKtEfAI/AAAAAAAAKMs/Ocpq4tFcCpM/s1600/LaGrange_HistoricTownView.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IxW3UIZtIiw/VIdTbKtEfAI/AAAAAAAAKMs/Ocpq4tFcCpM/s1600/LaGrange_HistoricTownView.png" height="142" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Historic view of LaGrange, Tennessee.</em><br /><em>Via lagrangetn.com</em></td></tr></tbody></table>It is an area where early habitation has been documented.&nbsp; A few artifacts have been found dating back about 15,000 years when the land was still covered by the Pleistocene glacier.&nbsp; Many more artifacts have been found to show occupation during the Archaic Period that followed.&nbsp; The Chickasaw Nation, formed around the mid-1500s, was centered in towns in north Mississippi, and used what is now west Tennessee as hunting grounds.&nbsp; A trading post called Itey Uch La which meant "cluster of pines" occupied the site located on a high bluff above the Wolf River until the controversial purchase of the area in 1818 that relocated the Chickasaws to the West.&nbsp; The town of LaGrange, located in Fayette County, was named in honor of the home of the French hero of the Revolutionary War, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette.&nbsp; The town was surveyed in 1822 and laid out with 225 lots.&nbsp; A post office was established in 1828 and the town was chartered in 1829.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpLtTgCqtNU/VIdT7ViTXmI/AAAAAAAAKM0/bn09qI-OcrY/s1600/LaGrange_Woodlawn_ColorFront_viaHardemanCoTn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpLtTgCqtNU/VIdT7ViTXmI/AAAAAAAAKM0/bn09qI-OcrY/s1600/LaGrange_Woodlawn_ColorFront_viaHardemanCoTn.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Woodlawn Plantation, LaGrange, TN</em><br /><em>was built in 1832&nbsp;just past&nbsp;the eastern&nbsp;border of the town.</em><br /><em>It served as General Sherman's headquarters in 1862.</em><br /><em>Photo via hardemancountytn.com</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Also known as LaBelle Village, the town of over 2,000 occupants enjoyed prosperity before the Civil War.&nbsp; But over a three year period of occupation by as many as 30,000 Union troops almost devastated the town.&nbsp; Some of the houses were conscripted for official use and&nbsp;as many as 40 were partially&nbsp;dismantled for salvaged materials for the occupying troops.&nbsp; Economic depression prevented much building after the war, and&nbsp;a fire destroyed&nbsp;most of the west side of Main Street in 1873.&nbsp; The&nbsp;Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878 also contributed to the lack of growth.&nbsp; The Cyclone (tornado) of 1900 wiped out most of the remaining commercial buildings which were never replaced, resulting in a lack of businesses.&nbsp; There are a couple of churches and a collection of handsome houses however.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfIFUP9EzMk/VIdd4pCD5xI/AAAAAAAAKNs/caDsJlfSBAQ/s1600/LaGrange_Church_FrontNEoblique_JJT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfIFUP9EzMk/VIdd4pCD5xI/AAAAAAAAKNs/caDsJlfSBAQ/s1600/LaGrange_Church_FrontNEoblique_JJT.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Immanuel Episcopal Church</em><br /><em>LaGrange, Tennessee.</em><br /><em>Photo by John Tackett/The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The&nbsp;most significant&nbsp;architectural survivor is Immanuel Episcopal Church.&nbsp; Organized in 1832 after a 52 year old widow, Mrs. Mary Hayes Willis Gloster, rode horseback with her son-in-law to Franklin, Tennessee, to seek help from her godson, Reverend James Hervey Otey, later to become the first Bishop of Tennessee, as there were no churches in the area of LaGrange.&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r28rjM7jB_0/VIdfjCC-NmI/AAAAAAAAKN8/6h6A3wJEOyY/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_FloorPlan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r28rjM7jB_0/VIdfjCC-NmI/AAAAAAAAKN8/6h6A3wJEOyY/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_FloorPlan.jpg" height="314" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The floor plan of Immanuel Episcopal Church.</em><br /><em>HABS drawing.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Built by slaves, the cornerstone was laid May 9, 1840, and consecrated for worship in 1843.&nbsp; Although no architect was credited, it is a handsome building, especially considering the relative isolation.&nbsp; (The railroad passing through the town, linking Charleston and Memphis, the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, was completed in&nbsp;&nbsp;1857.&nbsp; See an earlier post of The Devoted Classicist for the nearby town of <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2013/04/pilgrimage-to-holly-springs.html?">Holly Springs, Mississippi</a>&nbsp;which prospered from a link to the railroad at the adjacent town of Grand Junction). &nbsp;The church is said to be a closely inspired by the Gloster family's former Immanuel Church in Warrenton, North Carolina.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXBNdXX3lgY/VIdb6oNW3NI/AAAAAAAAKNY/2qUQHW0oPSI/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_FrontDrawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXBNdXX3lgY/VIdb6oNW3NI/AAAAAAAAKNY/2qUQHW0oPSI/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_FrontDrawing.jpg" height="314" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The front elevation of Immanuel Episcopal Church,</em><br /><em>LaGrange, Tennessee.&nbsp; HABS drawing.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The front of the church is austere, with only the double doors flanked by shallow niches, more like blind windows.&nbsp; There was to be a belfry, and the original hand-hewn structural framing shows this intention, but it was never built.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zfMM5B3iCXI/VIdetCmyVmI/AAAAAAAAKN0/lyP3zVaMM40/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_RoofFramingDwg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zfMM5B3iCXI/VIdetCmyVmI/AAAAAAAAKN0/lyP3zVaMM40/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_RoofFramingDwg.jpg" height="314" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The roof framing of Immanuel Episcopal Church.</em><br /><em>HABS drawing.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>There was a campaign in the nineteen-teens that raised money to add a belfry tower, but it was&nbsp;decided to donate the funds, instead, to support charitable efforts related to the Great War&nbsp;(World War I).&nbsp; In the 1970s, an abstract bell tower was built adjacent but separate from the building.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuOzSqwMORY/VIdXQLN8TsI/AAAAAAAAKNM/QBkIq5aL8n0/s1600/LaGrange_Church_East.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuOzSqwMORY/VIdXQLN8TsI/AAAAAAAAKNM/QBkIq5aL8n0/s1600/LaGrange_Church_East.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The east side of Immanuel Episcopal Church</em><br /><em>showing the 1970s bell tower adjacent.</em><br /><em>Photo by John Tackett/The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sides of the church are more attractive than the front, however.&nbsp; The hand-made brick laid in Flemish bond provide a handsome background for stucco-covered, simple pilasters, long gothick ogee-head windows and louvered shutters.&nbsp; (The existing window sash date from a 1968 restoration; they are similar to, but not an exact match of, the original).</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LfIcQ38c7do/VIjFt0mOJeI/AAAAAAAAKOU/-AJluhdLEhA/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_WindowComparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LfIcQ38c7do/VIjFt0mOJeI/AAAAAAAAKOU/-AJluhdLEhA/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_WindowComparison.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A comparison of replacement vs. original</em><br /><em>window sash at Immanuel Episcopal Church.</em><br /><em>HABS photo.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Inside, the sanctuary measures 50'-4" x 36'-3" with the original 20'-2" ceiling height restored after the removal of a late 19th century vaulted wood ceiling.&nbsp; A balcony spans the front end of the space, one of the few slave galleries ever built in this region.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XemPV0s-x48/VIjHcVeSXMI/AAAAAAAAKOg/xmWmGKcJ3SY/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_Section.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XemPV0s-x48/VIjHcVeSXMI/AAAAAAAAKOg/xmWmGKcJ3SY/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_Section.jpg" height="314" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>East-West Section through Immanuel Episcopal Church.</em><br /><em>HABS drawing.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXr5-GYvvEg/VIjI2nw5SOI/AAAAAAAAKOs/C3v_NKr5R-Q/s1600/LaGrange_InteriorNorth_JJT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXr5-GYvvEg/VIjI2nw5SOI/AAAAAAAAKOs/C3v_NKr5R-Q/s1600/LaGrange_InteriorNorth_JJT.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The interior of Immanuel Episcopal Church</em><br /><em>looking towards the front.</em><br /><em>Photo by John Tackett/The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I30bN0D-fTk/VIjJbNDWZsI/AAAAAAAAKO0/3wZ4mSiscKk/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_SectionBB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I30bN0D-fTk/VIjJbNDWZsI/AAAAAAAAKO0/3wZ4mSiscKk/s1600/LaGrange_Church_HABS_SectionBB.jpg" height="314" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The North-South section through the church</em><br /><em>showing the original window sash.</em><br /><em>HABS drawing.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>At the other end, the original mahogany cross which had been removed for safe-keeping during the Civil War, has been returned to its intended location above the alter.&nbsp; The original&nbsp;cruets&nbsp;are placed&nbsp;on a shelf adjacent.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mS55q34xwAQ/VIjKWD4pv7I/AAAAAAAAKPA/dF2ZehdOcRM/s1600/LaGrange_Church_interior_alter.from.gallery_JJT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mS55q34xwAQ/VIjKWD4pv7I/AAAAAAAAKPA/dF2ZehdOcRM/s1600/LaGrange_Church_interior_alter.from.gallery_JJT.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>View to the alter from the gallery.</em><br /><em>Photo by John Tackett/The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TdhMecDAxJ0/VIjM29YIGxI/AAAAAAAAKPM/0UnNBLJeD6s/s1600/LaGrange_Church_alterFromWest_JJT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TdhMecDAxJ0/VIjM29YIGxI/AAAAAAAAKPM/0UnNBLJeD6s/s1600/LaGrange_Church_alterFromWest_JJT.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Another view of the alter of</em><br /><em>Immanuel Episcopal Church.</em><br /><em>Photo by John Tackett/The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>During the Yankee occupation, the church was used first as a hospital, then as a warehouse.&nbsp; The pews were removed and, according to written accounts, the wood was used for coffins.&nbsp; The wainscot was burned as firewood.&nbsp; The replacements are said to approximate the design of the original.&nbsp; The flooring of pine boards 7 1/4" to 7 1/2" wide is original.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QLE9JADVuU/VIjN3e9licI/AAAAAAAAKPU/QHunr6kAFfw/s1600/LaGrange_Church_interior_replacementPewsWindows_JJT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QLE9JADVuU/VIjN3e9licI/AAAAAAAAKPU/QHunr6kAFfw/s1600/LaGrange_Church_interior_replacementPewsWindows_JJT.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Replacement pews, wainscot and windows</em><br /><em>approximate the original designs.</em><br /><em>Photo by John Tackett/The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The Vestry was replaced after the Civil War.&nbsp; A half-bath was added in the 1968 restoration.&nbsp; Central heating and air-conditioning was added at that time as well.<br /><br />In September, I had the opportunity to visit Immanuel Episcopal Church with three sisters from <a href="http://www.stmaryssewanee.org/">St. Mary's Convent</a>, an Episcopal Benedictine monastery for women in Sewanee, Tennessee, and a contingent from <a href="http://www.stmarysmemphis.org/">St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Memphis.</a>&nbsp; It was part of an annual observance each year honoring <a href="http://www.stmarysmemphis.org/about-us/history/constance-her-companions/">Constance and Her Companions,</a> the Martyrs of Memphis.&nbsp; We were given a history of the church by its most gracious warden, Nora Whitmer, the source for much of this information.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-koFA5YFp_4k/VIjPsL-VjrI/AAAAAAAAKPg/qzLl8Kb8_3w/s1600/LaGrange_CedarHall_1831_JTackett.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-koFA5YFp_4k/VIjPsL-VjrI/AAAAAAAAKPg/qzLl8Kb8_3w/s1600/LaGrange_CedarHall_1831_JTackett.png" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Cedar Hall, LaGrange, Tennessee.</em><br /><em>Front (South) Elevation.</em><br /><em>Photo by John Tackett/The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Afterwards, we were fortunate to be invited to visit the warden's home, Cedar Hall, surely the most charming in a village of lovely homes.&nbsp; The small cottage dating from about 1831 was sensitively enlarged with additions flanking either side of the original, plus an extension to the rear that also provided a wrap-around porch.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M7f8J7sWW60/VIjQItkYa6I/AAAAAAAAKPo/qkq8JykPe1k/s1600/LaGrange_CedarHall_EastSide_JJT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M7f8J7sWW60/VIjQItkYa6I/AAAAAAAAKPo/qkq8JykPe1k/s1600/LaGrange_CedarHall_EastSide_JJT.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The East side of Cedar Hall, LaGrange,</em><br /><em>showing the additions.</em><br /><em>Photo by John Tackett/The Devoted Classicist.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those considering an outing, there are currently no commercial establishments in LaGrange.&nbsp; However, a no-frills meal can be had at Junction Café about 8 miles to the east on Highway 57 W in Grand Junction.&nbsp; Unfortunately, their specialty, BBQ, was not available at the time of our visit, but comes highly recommended.&nbsp; For more information on LaGrange, visit the town's <a href="http://www.lagrangetn.com/">website,</a> a reference used for this essay.</div>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-12413400483254897722014-11-28T13:51:00.001-06:002014-11-28T13:51:42.470-06:00Frances Elkins: Chic Chaises<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ooVZgWTY_og/VHi9I0eLP6I/AAAAAAAAKK4/Hmv8Pwwe8gk/s1600/Elkins_Chair_Arm_Loop_SothebysViaMagAntiques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ooVZgWTY_og/VHi9I0eLP6I/AAAAAAAAKK4/Hmv8Pwwe8gk/s1600/Elkins_Chair_Arm_Loop_SothebysViaMagAntiques.jpg" height="640" width="489" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The&nbsp;'loop' chair attributed to Frances Elkins.</em><br /><em>Two pairs sold at auction in 2009 for $5,938 each pair.</em><br /><em>Sotheby's photo via The Magazine Antiques.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>As mentioned in the previous post of The Devoted Classicist, <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2014/11/bunny-mellon-chic-chaises.html?">here,</a> the "loop" chairs from the collection of Bunny Mellon purchased from Mallet had provided inspiration for the noted twentieth-century decorator <strong>Frances Elkins</strong> to design her own version.&nbsp; ﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LO2rYIZP7Xs/VHi9Zwm8ZbI/AAAAAAAAKLA/BlIULPMyF9k/s1600/Elkins_influence_Ditchley_Chairs_Mallet_1999_MagAnt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LO2rYIZP7Xs/VHi9Zwm8ZbI/AAAAAAAAKLA/BlIULPMyF9k/s1600/Elkins_influence_Ditchley_Chairs_Mallet_1999_MagAnt.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Frances Elkins' inspiration:</em><br /><em>the 1760s chairs as they appeared in</em><br /><em>MALLET MILLENIUM:&nbsp;FINE ANTIQUE</em><br /><em>FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART,</em><br /><em>Image via The Magazine Antiques.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Francis Elkins was the sister of noted architect <strong>David </strong>Adler, but a noted interior decorator in her own right.&nbsp; Although she completed stylish projects on her own, Elkins' most recognized commissions might be those fifteen collaborations with her brother where the architecture and interior design blended with ideal harmony.&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lcJgxFROmT4/VHjBWFMov0I/AAAAAAAAKLM/Phav9OJuVlc/s1600/Elkins_Wheeler_MagAntiques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lcJgxFROmT4/VHjBWFMov0I/AAAAAAAAKLM/Phav9OJuVlc/s1600/Elkins_Wheeler_MagAntiques.jpg" height="372" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Frances Elkins' chairs in the Living Room</em><br /><em>of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Wheeler, Lake Forest, Illinois.</em><br /><em>Ezra Stoller photo, 1934, via The Magazine Antiques.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>The work of Frances Elkins came to be appreciated&nbsp;by a new generation with the monograph of David Adler that was published in 1970.&nbsp; The Living Porch of the Muttontown, Long Island, New York home of Evelyn Marshall Field was published in the August, 1936 issue of "Vogue."&nbsp; But&nbsp;it was not until Stephen Salny's much-admired book <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/0393731464">FRANCES ELKINS: INTERIOR DESIGN</a> was published in 2005 that revived interest really took off.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kLz3DW3dZBo/VHjEuvVapoI/AAAAAAAAKLY/WgKcscp45u8/s1600/Elkins_Chairs_Garden_Iron_AntOnOldPlankRd_1stDibs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kLz3DW3dZBo/VHjEuvVapoI/AAAAAAAAKLY/WgKcscp45u8/s1600/Elkins_Chairs_Garden_Iron_AntOnOldPlankRd_1stDibs.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Garden versions of the 'loop' chair in iron.</em><br /><em>" . . from a home on Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, IL."</em><br /><em>Formerly offered (sold)&nbsp;by Antiques on Old Plank Road.</em><br /><em>Image via 1st Dibs.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Descriptions of the early versions of the chairs made for Elkins state they had a dipped or saddle seat like the antique models she undoubtedly&nbsp;had seen&nbsp;published in <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/1851700803">A HISTORY OFENGLISH FURNITURE . .</a>&nbsp;or <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/185149037X">DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH FURNITURE . .</a>&nbsp; (These were the chairs that eventually ended up in the collection of Bunny Mellon, sold at auction last week).&nbsp; Elkins' early versions also had a caned seat, also adding to visual lightness.&nbsp; Later versions of the chair have been made, and continue to made today by various sources with adaptations to make them feasible for a more standardized fabrication and more sturdy for everyday use.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UncQXNoKHo/VHjKI7D75fI/AAAAAAAAKLo/gvgEvnkztIM/s1600/HadleyFL_DiningSittingRm_The%2BDevoted%2BClassicist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UncQXNoKHo/VHjKI7D75fI/AAAAAAAAKLo/gvgEvnkztIM/s1600/HadleyFL_DiningSittingRm_The%2BDevoted%2BClassicist.jpg" height="336" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The late Albert Hadley's Dining/Sitting Room</em><br /><em>in Naples, FL, photographed by Fernando Benoechea.</em><br /><a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2012/12/albert-hadley-in-naples-florida.html">"Albert Hadley in Naples, Florida"</a> </td></tr></tbody></table>More can be read about Frances Elkins' chair, dubbed the "It" chair by "The Magazine Antiques," in a January, 2009, article by <a href="http://www.themagazineantiques.com/articles/the-it-chair">Shax Reigler</a> and another in February, 2009; the second article&nbsp;mentions that the antique chairs from the collection of Mr. &amp; Mrs. Ronald Tree were copied by <a href="http://www.themagazineantiques.com/news-opinion/discovery/2009-02-03/the-it-chair-a-postscript/">Frederick Victoria &amp; Son</a>.&nbsp; Also, an essay on the subject appeared in the blog of&nbsp; <a href="http://emilyevanseerdmans.blogspot.com/2009/01/loop-chair.html">Emily Evans Eerdmans.</a><br />John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-22557998616698564312014-11-23T17:01:00.001-06:002014-11-28T13:59:24.444-06:00Bunny Mellon: Chic Chaises<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3scgL0MtEwI/VHJIZm7hS6I/AAAAAAAAKI8/V6r2DBESeAc/s1600/Mellon_auction_LoopChairDetail_Sothebys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3scgL0MtEwI/VHJIZm7hS6I/AAAAAAAAKI8/V6r2DBESeAc/s1600/Mellon_auction_LoopChairDetail_Sothebys.jpg" height="640" width="505" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A detail of Bunny Mellon's chairs,</em><br /><em>Lot 1301, Sale N09247.</em><br /><em>Sotheby's, New York.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/">The Devoted Classicist</a> has long wanted to present a series of posts about great chairs and their stylish owners, so here goes, starting with a remarkable set of seven black-japanned, parcel-gilt decorated&nbsp;dining chairs from the 1760s together with one armchair of a later date.&nbsp; Although quite familiar to those interested in the decorative arts, the&nbsp;chairs have been brought into the spotlight as Lot 1301 in the auction of the estate of Rachel "Bunny" Mellon, November 21 to 23, 2014, Sotheby's New York.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J3tp8QJVyPc/VHJJ-rxcvxI/AAAAAAAAKJE/oBWsICxLkrc/s1600/Mellon_auction_LoopChairsLot1301_Sothebys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J3tp8QJVyPc/VHJJ-rxcvxI/AAAAAAAAKJE/oBWsICxLkrc/s1600/Mellon_auction_LoopChairsLot1301_Sothebys.jpg" height="400" width="336" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Bunny Mellon's set of 'loop' chairs.</em><br /><em>Lot 1301, Sale NO9247.</em><br /><em>Sotheby's, NY.</em><br /><em>Estimated: $60,000 to $80,000.</em><br /><em>Sold: $181,000 (with buyer's premium).</em></td></tr></tbody></table>In the provenance listed in the catalog, Sotheby's failed to mention a former owner whose name would have added even more prestige: <a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-travellers-ditchley-carpet.html?m=1">Nancy Lancaster</a>&nbsp;one of the great decorators of the twentieth-century and business partner of <strong>John Fowler</strong> in the legendary firm <strong>Colefax &amp; Fowler</strong>.<br />﻿<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udi2f_m4NPE/VHJfeAybloI/AAAAAAAAKJc/VnoZq6mtvRQ/s1600/Mellon_auction_DICTIONARY_EEE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udi2f_m4NPE/VHJfeAybloI/AAAAAAAAKJc/VnoZq6mtvRQ/s1600/Mellon_auction_DICTIONARY_EEE.jpg" height="323" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The chairs as they appeared in</em><br /><em>DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH FURNITURE.</em><br /><em>Image via <a href="http://emilyevanseerdmans.blogspot.com/2009/01/loop-chair.html">Emily Evans Eerdmans</a> </em></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">﻿</div>As documented in an article by Shax Riegler in the January, 2009 issue of "The Magazine Antiques," the chairs were formerly owned by noted collector <strong>Frank Green</strong>, and illustrated in <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/1851700803">A HISTORY OF ENGLISH FURNITURE</a>&nbsp;by Percy MacQuoid, first published in four volumes from 1904 to 1908.&nbsp; (The chairs also appeared in the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/185149037X">DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH FURNITURE, FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO THE LATE GEORGIAN PERIOD.)</a><span id="goog_2138265151">&nbsp; </span><br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OEP2LFMKe3U/VHJef4l8phI/AAAAAAAAKJU/HlJbwHNz-BY/s1600/Mellon_auction_15QueensGate_Hudson_CLPL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OEP2LFMKe3U/VHJef4l8phI/AAAAAAAAKJU/HlJbwHNz-BY/s1600/Mellon_auction_15QueensGate_Hudson_CLPL.png" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A chair from the same set appears when</em><br /><em>"Country Life" magazine publishes photos</em><br /><em>of the home of founder Edward Burgess Hudson</em><br /><em>at 15 Queen's Gate, London.</em><br /><em>Image via Country Life Picture Library.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>By the early 1920s, the chairs were owned by <strong>Edward Burgess Hudson</strong>, founder of "Country Life," the magazine where MacQuoid was employed as a columnist.&nbsp; Hudson died in 1936 and sometime in the mid-1930s, the chairs were acquired by his London neighbors on Queen Anne's Gate, <strong>Ronald and Nancy Tree</strong>.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbT0DaJcW68/VHJlyKkct_I/AAAAAAAAKJ8/rm58eM5pzxo/s1600/Mellon_auction_Serebriakkoff_YellowBedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbT0DaJcW68/VHJlyKkct_I/AAAAAAAAKJ8/rm58eM5pzxo/s1600/Mellon_auction_Serebriakkoff_YellowBedroom.jpg" height="400" width="368" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Yellow Bedroom at Ditchley Park</em><br /><em>showing one of the side chairs.</em><br /><em>Watercolor by Alexandre Serebriakoff.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>After their divorce, Mrs. Tree became better known as <strong>Nancy Lancaster </strong>after her next marriage,&nbsp;with the chairs remaining at their grand country house <strong>Ditchley Park</strong>.&nbsp; Two wonderful sets of watercolors were commissioned from <strong>Alexandre Serebriakoff</strong> as a record of Nancy and Ronald's decorating, and the chairs can be seen in the Yellow Bedroom and the Writing Room.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Vq6PXOwOEQ/VHJhfYQpKSI/AAAAAAAAKJo/rADmGExP1uk/s1600/Ditchley_BlackLacquerChairs_Serebriakoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Vq6PXOwOEQ/VHJhfYQpKSI/AAAAAAAAKJo/rADmGExP1uk/s1600/Ditchley_BlackLacquerChairs_Serebriakoff.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Writing Room at Ditchley Park</em><br /><em>showing the antique&nbsp;armchair.</em><br /><em>Watercolor by Alexandre Serebriakoff.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>With the sale of Ditchley Park, the chairs went to the Manhattan townhouse of Ronald and his second wife <strong>Marietta Tree</strong>.&nbsp; Presumably they remained in New York until the auction following Ronald Tree's death as they appear on the cover of the October, 1976 Sotheby Parke Bernet auction catalog.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BfKe7Nz-1mw/VHJiYoAxtGI/AAAAAAAAKJw/7tD17h1aNlA/s1600/Mellon_Auction_Cover1976_EEE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BfKe7Nz-1mw/VHJiYoAxtGI/AAAAAAAAKJw/7tD17h1aNlA/s1600/Mellon_Auction_Cover1976_EEE.jpg" height="400" width="362" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Cover of the 1976 auction catalog</em><br /><em>showing two of the side chairs.</em><br /><em>Image via <a href="http://emilyevanseerdmans.blogspot.com/2009/01/loop-chair.html">Emily Evans Eerdmans.</a></em></td></tr></tbody></table>The "Antiques" article stated that the chairs were bought by the London antiques dealer Mallet and appeared in both MALLET'S GREAT ENGLISH FURNITURE and MALLET MILLENNIUM: FINE ANTIQUE FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART.&nbsp; In the 2009 article, Mallet's revealed that they had made the second arm chair and that the chairs were in a private American collection.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TyJpIz8-gA8/VHNYZc0XpLI/AAAAAAAAKKM/WfcQkndGhb4/s1600/Mellon_auction_SpitzA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TyJpIz8-gA8/VHNYZc0XpLI/AAAAAAAAKKM/WfcQkndGhb4/s1600/Mellon_auction_SpitzA.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>A Mellon arm chair, Lot 1301,</em><br /><em>as it was displayed in the pre-sale exhibition.</em><br /><em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.christopherspitzmiller.com/">Christopher Spitzmiller</a></em></td></tr></tbody></table>The light graceful curves were made feasible through an innovative use of laminated beechwood.&nbsp; The lacquered (or japanned) chinoiserie finish adds to the fanciful design but also conceals the layered construction.&nbsp; However, the go-to craftsman for remarkable new ceramic lamps, <a href="http://www.christopherspitzmiller.com/">Christopher Spitzmiller</a>,&nbsp;said the chairs had a bit of "give" to the touch, making them more of an art object rather than chairs that were&nbsp;actually sat in&nbsp;for regular use.&nbsp; Also noteworthy is the dipped or "saddle" seat, a characteristic found in other examples of the mid-1760s.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfJQK_fH8xo/VHNZ2dloTKI/AAAAAAAAKKY/FuH4ruc3riw/s1600/Mellon_auction_SpitzComboCropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfJQK_fH8xo/VHNZ2dloTKI/AAAAAAAAKKY/FuH4ruc3riw/s1600/Mellon_auction_SpitzComboCropped.png" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Views of the pre-sale exhibition at Sotheby's</em><br /><em>showing the display of the eight chairs of Lot 1301.</em><br /><em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.christopherspitzmiller.com/">Christopher Spitzmiller.</a></em></td></tr></tbody></table>There is another chapter to come in the story of these chairs, of course, now that there is a new owner.&nbsp; But, in addition, these chairs inspired a 20th century interpretation popularized by <strong>Frances Adler Elkins</strong>.&nbsp; That will be another post of The Devoted Classicist.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><em>And Furthermore </em></strong></div><div align="center">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://tdclassicist.blogspot.com/2010/12/bit-more-about-me.html?m=1">The Devoted Classicist</a> has been a fan of the late Rachel "Bunny" Mellon since her contributions to the gardens at the <a href="http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/rachel-bunny-mellon-the-heiress-with-a-green-thumb">White House.</a>&nbsp; Starting with the Rose Garden in 1961 and then the East Garden, dedicated as the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden in 1965, the heiress (Listerine) who married into an even larger fortune attracted attention in the community of those appreciating the mix of the formal and informal in residential garden design.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the&nbsp;early 1990s, an&nbsp;Attingham classmate who was a foundation employee working from the Brick House gave me some insight into the then-relatively-private Mellons and their 4,000 acre estate (now about 2,000 acres listed for sale with 40 structures for $70 million) Oak Spring Farm near Upperville, Virginia.&nbsp; </div><br />Auction catalogs can be an invaluable resource for studying (both fine and) the decorative arts.&nbsp; However, interior views shown in catalogs&nbsp;are routinely rearranged to give a better representation of the lots offered; too seldom are they an accurate record of the original setting.&nbsp; Nor can the descriptions be counted on as 100% accurate, even in the most prestigious and expensive catalogs.<br /><br />Despite declarations from self-appointed tastemakers and arbiters of style/design that traditional decoration is passé, there has been a media frenzy surrounding Interiors, the three day auction of the furnishings from the estate of the late Mrs. Mellon with proceeds to benefit the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation, a horticultural foundation which will continue to operate the library at Oak Spring.&nbsp; While it is true that spare, neutral, do-it-yourself schemes still remain the most popular trend in interior design, clearly there is still interest in antiques and decoration among those in-the-know.&nbsp; This successful sale is a reminder that one should follow one's own taste and not what is the so-called current fashion.John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-13635194626813454832014-10-01T18:31:00.000-05:002014-10-10T13:45:06.816-05:00In With The Old<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YtEnywh9sQ/VCyMWsOE6dI/AAAAAAAAKD0/QuK3xRfRzeo/s1600/Boles_Jennifer_Bookplate_TPoC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YtEnywh9sQ/VCyMWsOE6dI/AAAAAAAAKD0/QuK3xRfRzeo/s1600/Boles_Jennifer_Bookplate_TPoC.jpg" height="352" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Bookplates are just one of the topics</em><br /><em>covered in the book.</em><br /><em>Image from <a href="http://www.thepeakofchic.blogspot.com/">The Peak of Chic blog</a></em></td></tr></tbody></table>"Classic design never goes out of style.."&nbsp; Those are the first words in the Introduction to <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/thedevoclas-20/detail/038534516X">IN WITH THE OLD: CLASSIC DECOR FROM A TO Z</a> by Jennifer Boles.&nbsp; And that is certainly the motto of The Devoted Classicist.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zLvfYdc8f84/VCyNKgdwNtI/AAAAAAAAKD8/Con1J9QjICY/s1600/Boles_InWithTheOld_Cover_TPoC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zLvfYdc8f84/VCyNKgdwNtI/AAAAAAAAKD8/Con1J9QjICY/s1600/Boles_InWithTheOld_Cover_TPoC.jpg" height="400" width="328" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Image from <a href="http://www.thepeakofchic.blogspot.com/">The Peak of Chic</a> blog.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Starting with acrylic furniture and going though woven zebra rugs, Jennifer takes the most chic and classic home furnishings from the 1940s through the 1970s and shows how they are effectively being reused today with such admirable results.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1bMLGjBYBs/VCyNtPhuYRI/AAAAAAAAKEE/9zt4DWPVvls/s1600/Boles_Jennifer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1bMLGjBYBs/VCyNtPhuYRI/AAAAAAAAKEE/9zt4DWPVvls/s1600/Boles_Jennifer.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Jennifer Boles</em><br /><em>Image via the Albany Herald newspaper.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>A not-to-be-missed event for all those in the Memphis area will have Jennifer Boles making a presentation on the enduring qualities of&nbsp;classic décor followed by a sale and signing of her terrific book on Saturday, October 11, 2014, at Brooks Museum of Art, 2:00 pm.&nbsp; As an educational program of <a href="http://www.decorativeartstrust.com/">Decorative Arts Trust,</a> the talk is open to the public and free with regular museum admission.<br /><br />Jennifer is one of the relatively few fellow Bloggers that I have had the opportunity to both meet and attend a presentation; she was a guest of D.A.T. several years ago as the moderator for a panel discussion and I can vouch that she is indeed <a href="http://www.thepeakofchic.blogspot.com/">The Peak of Chic.</a>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390485471778959088.post-68000072326570693562014-09-06T17:09:00.002-05:002014-09-06T17:09:36.390-05:00Harold R. Simmons, Jr.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eX5RuLsLvmg/VAt-5GzpqsI/AAAAAAAAKBc/2mRpWvh9noo/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Piranesi_urn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eX5RuLsLvmg/VAt-5GzpqsI/AAAAAAAAKBc/2mRpWvh9noo/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Piranesi_urn.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>The life of <strong>Harold Simmons</strong>,&nbsp;one of the great influences in my career, was celebrated today in East Hampton, New York.&nbsp; He passed away peacefully in his home on August 12, 2014, after the challenges of hip cancer.<br />﻿﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tn-TWrGhuoE/VAt_WLN-NuI/AAAAAAAAKBk/QyrxYnLY6Nc/s1600/HaroldSimmons_atTheHamptonDesignerShowhouse_11May2004_PatrickMcMullen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tn-TWrGhuoE/VAt_WLN-NuI/AAAAAAAAKBk/QyrxYnLY6Nc/s1600/HaroldSimmons_atTheHamptonDesignerShowhouse_11May2004_PatrickMcMullen.png" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Peter van Hattum (left) and Harold Simmons (right)</em><br /><em>at The Hampton Designer Show House,</em><br /><em>11 May, 2004</em><br /><em>Photo via Patrick McMullen.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Harold was formerly the Senior Vice-President at Parish-Hadley Associates in New York City where he worked for 21 years.&nbsp; Among his many responsibilities, Harold headed the Design Studio which numbered as many as seven architects during my time there in the 1980s.&nbsp; Each of us was responsible for one or more of the architectural projects underway, often of tremendous scope for clients such as Rockefeller and Getty, but always under the direction of Harold Simmons.﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iq5lPIz_k3A/VAuAXDmyH4I/AAAAAAAAKBs/UyJ35WHy69I/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Hertenhof_DeerCourt_2009_BlackTieMagazine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iq5lPIz_k3A/VAuAXDmyH4I/AAAAAAAAKBs/UyJ35WHy69I/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Hertenhof_DeerCourt_2009_BlackTieMagazine.jpg" height="188" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Hertenhof (Deer Court), Harold and Peter's home</em><br /><em>that Harold designed and had built in East Hampton.</em><br /><em>2009 photo via Black Tie Magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Harold's knowledge in the fields of interior design and architecture was vast and of the highest level of taste, that combination being a relative rarity in the profession.&nbsp; And there was never hesitation to share that knowledge.&nbsp; The list of items to be considered was a long one, from the plan of the furniture to the balance of the lighting to the physical allowances for window treatments, and on and on.&nbsp; But Harold Simmons knew all the answers and taught that same level of competency to his staff.<br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7stcc5SmP0/VAuBLfJ3jnI/AAAAAAAAKB0/bEZ6JySGV4I/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Peter.JoanWorth2009%2B_blacktiemagazine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7stcc5SmP0/VAuBLfJ3jnI/AAAAAAAAKB0/bEZ6JySGV4I/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Peter.JoanWorth2009%2B_blacktiemagazine.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Peter van Hattum, Joan Worth, and Harold Simmons</em><br /><em>at a charity event reception held at Hertenhof, 2009.</em><br /><em>Photo via Black Tie Magazine.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>Harold R. Simmons, Jr., was known as "Young Harold" in his hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, because his father had the same name, Harold R. Simmons.&nbsp; After graduating from Ole Miss, Harold worked for one year at the celebrated Memphis design firm owned by Kenneth Kimbrough and his partner Robert Bedford who insisted that he should get a degree from Parsons School of Design in New York if he wanted to be a design professional.&nbsp; (Bobby Bedford, now in his mid-90s, is&nbsp;a cherished friend of mine because of the connection with Harold).<br />﻿﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iffPCmaLuTI/VAuCLPX-FpI/AAAAAAAAKB8/A6bKKEwsGPo/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Spalato_-_Querschnitt_Mausoleum_Diocletian_-_Robert_Adam_1764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iffPCmaLuTI/VAuCLPX-FpI/AAAAAAAAKB8/A6bKKEwsGPo/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Spalato_-_Querschnitt_Mausoleum_Diocletian_-_Robert_Adam_1764.jpg" height="302" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The Mausoleum of Emperor Diocletian, Spalato,</em><br /><em>as drawn as a conjectural restoration by</em><br /><em>Robert Adam, 1764.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>After graduating from Parsons in 1965 and specializing in Interior Architecture, Harold first worked for the architectural firm of Alfred Easton Poor.&nbsp; In 1966, he joined the decorating firm then known as Mrs. Henry Parish, 2nd, as the personal assistant to Albert Hadley.&nbsp; Harold once told me that, on his first day on the job, he went with Mr. Hadley to an enormous apartment that was to be extensively renovated; Mr. Hadley began marking big "X"-es on the walls to be demolished, noting new locations for electric outlets on the walls, etc., all instructions soon to be lost when the construction process began.&nbsp; Harold brought a level of order and professionalism to the office, contributing much to making it one of the most respected full-service&nbsp;design firms in the 1980s.&nbsp; <br />﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JK9X3rx_wfY/VAuDVnMpkQI/AAAAAAAAKCE/0MK0Ujqh8O0/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Piranesi_view-of-the-tomb-of-caius-cestius_jpg!Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JK9X3rx_wfY/VAuDVnMpkQI/AAAAAAAAKCE/0MK0Ujqh8O0/s1600/HaroldSimmons_Piranesi_view-of-the-tomb-of-caius-cestius_jpg!Blog.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>View of the tomb of Caius Cestius by Piranesi.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>After leaving Parish-Hadley in 1987, Harold joined his long-time partner Peter van Hattum (whom he had met his first week in New York in 1962) to found the firm Van Hattum and Simmons.&nbsp; Their work included embassies in South America and numerous fine residences in New York, Washington, DC, and London, among other locations.&nbsp; Also, their work was highly regarded in numerous Kips Bay Decorator Show Houses and Southampton Decorator Show Houses.&nbsp; Harold and Peter were married in 2012.<br /><br />The combination of charm, wit, and talent is far too rare, so it is especially sad to lose someone like Harold.&nbsp; Memorial gifts may be made in honor of Harold Simmons to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978.&nbsp; My deepest sympathy goes to Peter, another remarkable individual, and their family.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>HAROLD R. SIMMONS, JR.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>1939 to 2014</strong></div><div align="center"><strong>REQUIESCAT IN PACE</strong>﻿</div>John J. Tacketthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17138329330942154191noreply@blogger.com9